noon
Never before had this young , energetic , active spirit known what it is to be despondent . It was the unreality of the world that made her so . Her dearest friend , whose heart seemed the most solid and richest of Hilda 's possessions , had no existence for her any more ; and in that dreary void , out of which Miriam had disappeared , the substance , the truth , the integrity of life , the motives of effort , the joy of success , had departed along with her . It was long past noon , when a step came up the staircase . It had passed beyond the limits where there was communication with the lower regions of the palace , and was mounting the successive flights which led only to Hilda 's precincts . Faint as the tread was , she heard and recognized it . It startled her into sudden life .