noon
For a long time sleep fled from him . A thousand scenes hovered in a confused throng before his fancy , blending into a witch-dance in whose mazes his own brain seemed to whirl also , until the giddiness became intolerable . He saw Ada in various transformations -- now seated opposite to him at the table -- then in the drawing-room -- anon clasped in his arms -- sometimes brightly illuminated as the queen of the ball-room -- sometimes a faint , dark vision against the sombre background of the woodland -- he inhaled her favourite perfume , felt the touch of her arms and her lips -- he heard her voice and the melancholy music of the night watchman and the notes of the dancing tune from the ballroom , and amid these exciting delusions of the senses a restless , dream-haunted slumber at last overtook him . * * * * * * It was almost noon when he awoke . At first his head felt confused and empty , but gradually he collected his thoughts , and now the experience of the previous night again stood clearly before his eyes . He suddenly recalled all his feelings during the walk through the woods , and , while dressing with the utmost haste , he exultingly repeated in a low tone again and again : `` I love her ! And she returns my love !