noon
she mused . To the nature that felt the ferocity of the vendetta a right and a due , there was wounding humiliation in her knowledge that she had left her rival unharmed , and had come hither , out from his sight and his presence , lest he should see in her one glimpse of that folly which she would have killed herself under her own steel rather than have been betrayed , either for his contempt or his compassion . `` And I came without my vengeance ! '' she mused , in that oppressive noon , in that gray and lonely place , in that lofty tower-solitude , where there was nothing between her and the hot , hard , cruel blue of the heavens , vengeance looked the only thing that was left her ; the only means whereby that void in her heart could be filled , that shame in her life be washed out . To love ! and to love a man who had no love for her , whose eyes only beheld another 's face , whose ears only thirsted for another 's voice ! Its degradation stamped her a traitress in her own sight -- traitress to her code , to her pride , to her country , to her flag !