noon
That her mother practiced in the black arts was apparent ; and a vague feeling that perhaps through witchcraft she might reach the troubled spirit of her beloved , drove her in the end to hard courage , overriding all other considerations . She went to the window and peered out , then moved to the door . Stepping beyond it furtively , like a young rabbit outside the den , she looked about her . The sun hung motionless almost exactly at the noon , and the chill of night had passed . There was no sign of her mother , nor any other creature save a solitary hawk , which soared watchful high above . She went inside again and rolled back the corner of the carpet , as in quick glances she had seen her mother do . The chest lay beneath .