noon
They lifted her on her bed , and watched her until her trial took hold of her . No stand did Nelly make against pain and anguish . She was sinking fast into that dreamless sleep where the weary are at rest , when Lady Staneholme stood by her bed and laid an heir by her side , bidding her rejoice , in tones that fell off into a faint quivering sob of tenderness and woe ; but Nelly 's crushed , stunned heart had still some hidden spring among its withered verdure , and her Benoni called her back from the land of forgetfulness . Nelly recovered , at first slowly but cheeringly , latterly with a doubt and apprehension creeping over her brightening prospect -- until , all too certainly and hopelessly , her noon , that had been disturbed with thunder-claps and dashing rain , was shrouded in grey twilight . Nelly would live , but her limbs would never more obey her active spirit , for she had been attacked by a relentless malady . The little feet that had slid in courtly measure , and twinkled in blithe strathspeys , and wandered restlessly over moor and brae , were stretched out in leaden helplessness . When she was young , she `` had girded herself and gone whither she would ; '' but now , ere she was old , while there was not one silver thread in those chestnut locks , `` another would gird her and carry her whither she would not . ''