noon before
Pliny 's shattered nervous system was not strong enough to endure the shock . Mrs. Hastings went from one fainting fit to another , with wild shrieks of anguish between -- but all sound that escaped Dora , when Theodore gently and tenderly told her '' _ the _ truth , '' was , `` Oh , God , have mercy ! '' and the rest of that night she spent at her father 's bedside , on her knees . It was high noon before his heavy slumber changed to that unending sleep , but the change came -- without word or sound or the quiver of a muscle -- suddenly , touched by its Maker 's hand , the busy heart _ stopped _ . `` Can you get through the rest of this fearful scene without me ? '' Dr. Arnold asked in the afternoon when all was over . `` I must go home .