midday
Death would appear to her for the first time , if this face which she loved were to be drained for ever of light and colour and movement and meaning . A humblebee from the Square Garden boomed in and buzzed idly round the room . She caught her breath in a little sob ... Pierson received that telegram at midday , returning from a lonely walk after his talk with Thirza . Coming from Gratian so self-reliant -- it meant the worst . He prepared at once to catch the next train . Noel was out , no one knew where : so with a sick feeling he wrote :