noon
It seemed to her now as though all her world had known a sudden change . It was as when some tender creature , fresh risen from the earth , ventures into the strange , new world of the air , to flutter its brief day . Eternity seems to stretch before it , an eternity of joy hinted in the first glance at this new universe which it attains . Yet comes the sun , the sudden , blighting sun , the same influence which has broken the brooding envelope of another world and brought this gentle being into its new life , and this cruel sun withers at once the tender creature in all its hope and youthfulness and beauty , ending its bright day ere it as yet is noon . Thus seemed the universe to Miss Lady , no longer young , care - free , joyous , but now suddenly grown old . One look , one sudden flash of her inner comprehension , and she knew it to be for ever established that this woman , her mother , was her mother no more ! Why , she knew not , yet this was sure , she was not her mother , but her enemy .