noon
She had left him only a few hours since he had been under her roof , and if the banquet at the Rassinghams , after the deliberations , lasted until a very late hour , she would , for the sake of her invalid guest , great as was the sacrifice , attend only the former . Yet she was pleased at the thought of sharing this festal assembly , and she , her companion , and Lamperi all went into ecstasies over the dress she intended to wear , which had just arrived from Brussels . Maestro Feys passed a restless night , and Barbara watched beside his couch for hours . In the morning she allowed herself a little sleep , but she was obliged at noon to dress for the assembly , which was to begin before sunset . She had just sat down to have her hair arranged , which occupied a long time , when one of the pages handed her a letter brought by a mounted courier . She opened it curiously , and while reading it her cheeks paled and flushed as in the days of her youth . Then it dropped into her lap , and for a moment she remained motionless , with closed eyes , as though stupefied .