noon
One of the Mexicans cut a cross and placed it at his head , and , rude and ignorant as they all were , I believe every one said a prayer for his repose . Then I took the little gold he had , divided it among them , paid them their wages , and let them return home . I waited till all the tumult of their departure was over , then I , too , silently lifted my hat in a last ` farewell . ' It was quite noon then , and the grave lay in a band of sunshine -- a very pleasant grave to remember , Elizabeth . '' She was weeping unrestrainedly , and Richard let her weep . Such rain softens and fertilizes the soul , and leaves a harvest of blessedness behind . And when the first shock was over , Elizabeth could almost rejoice for the dead ; for Antony 's life had been set to extremes -- great ambitions and great failures -- and few , indeed , are the spirits so finely touched as to walk with even balance between them .