noon
No infliction can be so distressing to a mind absorbed in melancholy , as being plunged into a scene of mirth and revelry , forming an accompaniment so dissonant from its own feelings . Yet , in the case of the Countess of Leicester , the noise and tumult of this giddy scene distracted her thoughts , and rendered her this sad service , that it became impossible for her to brood on her own misery , or to form terrible anticipations of her approaching fate . She travelled on like one in a dream , following implicitly the guidance of Wayland , who , with great address , now threaded his way through the general throng of passengers , now stood still until a favourable opportunity occurred of again moving forward , and frequently turning altogether out of the direct road , followed some circuitous bypath , which brought them into the highway again , after having given them the opportunity of traversing a considerable way with greater ease and rapidity . It was thus he avoided Warwick , within whose Castle -LRB- that fairest monument of ancient and chivalrous splendour which yet remains uninjured by time -RRB- Elizabeth had passed the previous night , and where she was to tarry until past noon , at that time the general hour of dinner throughout England , after which repast she was to proceed to Kenilworth , In the meanwhile , each passing group had something to say in the Sovereign 's praise , though not absolutely without the usual mixture of satire which qualifies more or less our estimate of our neighbours , especially if they chance to be also our betters . `` Heard you , '' said one , `` how graciously she spoke to Master Bailiff and the Recorder , and to good Master Griffin the preacher , as they kneeled down at her coach-window ? '' `` Ay , and how she said to little Aglionby , ` Master Recorder , men would have persuaded me that you were afraid of me , but truly I think , so well did you reckon up to me the virtues of a sovereign , that I have more reason to be afraid of you . ' and then with what grace she took the fair-wrought purse with the twenty gold sovereigns , seeming as though she would not willingly handle it , and yet taking it withal . ''