noon
Had it been her case that she loved some other man , and his return of love claimed her , then indeed she might dare anything and break her chains . But the power of love seemed as dead in her as the passion she had once , and only once , conceived . She was utterly alone . Morning and noon went by . She had exhausted herself with ceaseless movement , and now for two or three hours lay on a couch as if asleep . The fever burned upon her forhead and in her breath . But at length endurance reached its limits .