noon
As may be well supposed , his pleadings , however urged , were wholly ineffectual , and excited no other feelings , except those of detestation , in her bosom . Such a state of things could not endure for ever ; and her only hope was , that finding all his efforts to move her fruitless , he would in time desist from them . Not that she was without other fearful apprehensions , which were shared by her attendants . Nearly a fortnight had thus passed by , when , one day , during which she had seen nothing of her tormentor , and was rejoicing at the circumstance , the repast usually served at noon was brought in by a fresh serving-man . Something in this person 's manner , and in the meaning glance he fixed upon her attracted her attention ; otherwise , he was a man of singularly unprepossessing appearance . She addressed a few words to him , but he made no reply , and became suddenly as reserved as his predecessor had been . This deportment , however , it presently appeared , was only assumed .