summer noon
Among the pegs and garments on the walls was a square piece of cardboard , on which was emblazoned in scarlet silk , the text , `` God is love . '' This hung at the foot of the bed , so as to be the first object to greet the girl 's eyes on awaking each morning . Below it hung a row of photographs , embracing the late Reverend James Maylands , his widow , his son Philip , his distant relative Madge , and the baby . These were so arranged as to catch the faint gleam of light that penetrated the window ; but as there was a twenty-foot brick wall in front of the window at a distance of two yards , the gleam , even on a summer noon , was not intense . In winter it was barely sufficient to render darkness visible . Poor May Maylands ! It was a tremendous change to her from the free air and green fields of Ireland to a small back street in the heart of London ; but necessity had required the change .