noon
Constance did not trust herself in the room a moment longer . After briefly collecting her thoughts , which had laboured unceasingly to unravel the mysteries that surrounded the Cavalier , she entered her father 's chamber . He had been evidently suffering from illness , and was seated in a large easy chair , his feet resting upon cushions , while the Reverend Jonas Fleetword read from time to time out of sundry pious books that were placed on a table before him . The preacher paused as she approached , and signified his intention of walking forth `` to meet the man Burrell , '' who , he understood from the wild youth called Robin Hays , was to arrive ere noon . It was a precious opportunity , one not to be neglected , for cultivating the rich seed sown in that holy land . When the worthy divine was fairly out of the room , Constance delivered a message from the Cavalier , stating that he had been obliged to leave Cecil Place without taking a personal leave of his kind host ; and repeated his expressions of gratitude for the attentions he had experienced during his brief sojourn . `` Thank God , he is gone ! ''