noon
-- Whither -- And Marmaduke went on with his benevolent schemes for improving Dorsetshire and the world ; and his Harrie had her dreams too -- possibly about the advantage an M.P. 's interest might prove in future days to `` the children ; '' and the young couple , in all the whirl of their misery , still clung to hope and youth and life , so little of which way they had trod , and so much of which lay before them . No one thought of her who sat apart , looking smilingly on them all , but to whom they and the things surrounding them were day by day growing more dim -- who was fading , fading , even while she smiled . When , late at night , the party reached Kingcombe , it was resolved that the Harpers should remain there until morning . Agatha , worn out with bodily fatigue and the great tension of her mind during so many hours , laid her head down on her pillow , closed her aching eyes , and never opened them till near upon broad noon . Then she found breakfast was long over in the early house of the Dugdales , and that Nathanael had left her and gone out some hours before . `` He would not let me come and wake you -- he said you slept so heavily and looked so tired . Certainly , he is the very kindest husband !