noon
Finally she rearranged the couch of skins and blankets , and , imparting to it in three clever shakes an entirely different character , lay down to pursue her reveries . But nature asserted herself , and ere she knew it she was fast asleep . So intense and prolonged had been her previous excitement that , the tension once relieved , she passed into a slumber of exhaustion so deep that she seemed scarce to breathe . High noon succeeded morning , the central shaft received a single ray of upper sunlight , the afternoon came and went , the shadows gathered below , the sunset fires began to eat their way through the groined roof , and she still slept . She slept even when the bark hangings of the chamber were put aside , and the young man reentered . He laid down a bundle he was carrying , and softly approached the sleeper . For a moment he was startled from his indifference ; she lay so still and motionless .