noon
In truth , it might , I hoped , die in the dawning , for my lady was as capricious as a May day ; but it was love -- love as plain as the sun at rising . She sought Brandon upon all occasions , and made opportunities to meet him ; not openly -- at any rate , not with Brandon 's knowledge , nor with any connivance on his part , but apparently caring little what he or any one else might see . Love lying in her heart had made her a little more shy than formerly in seeking him , but her straightforward way of taking whatever she wanted made her transparent little attempts at concealment very pathetic . As for Brandon , the shaft had entered his heart , too , poor fellow , as surely as love had dawned in Mary 's , but there was this difference : With our princess -- at least I so thought at the time -- the sun of love might dawn and lift itself to mid-heaven and glow with the fervent ardor of high noon -- for her blood was warm with the spark of her grandfather 's fire -- and then sink into the west and make room for another sun to-morrow . But with Brandon 's stronger nature the sun would go till noon and there would burn for life . The sun , however , had not reached its noon with Brandon , either ; since he had set his brain against his heart , and had done what he could to stay the all-consuming orb at its dawning . He knew the hopeless misery such a passion would bring him , and helped the good Lord , in so far as he could , to answer his prayer , and lead him not into temptation .