noon
he enquired . `` He was killed jumpin ' a fence ; '' went on Mrs. Spruce ; `` A fine , handsome gentleman , -- they say he 'd been wild in his youth ; anyhow he got married in London to a great Court beauty , so I 've been told . And after the wedding , they went travelling allover the world for a year and a half , and just when they was expected ` ome Mrs. Vancourt died with the birth of the child , and he and the baby and the nurses all came back here and he never stirred away again himself till death took him at full gallop , -- which is ` ow he always wished to die . But poor Miss Maryllia -- '' And Mrs. Spruce sighed dolefully -- '' 'T was hard on her , seein ' him ride off so gay and well and cheery in the early mornin ' to be brought home afore noon a corpse ! Ay , it was an awsome visitation of the Lord ! Often when the wind goes wimblin ' through the pines near the house I think I ` ear her shriek now , -- ay , sir ! -- it was like the cry of somethin' as was havin ' its heart tore out ! ''