noon
The rugged horse , still hitched , snatched with coarse , yellow teeth at the grass . Suddenly Mrs. Caley appeared at a door : she spoke , breaking the irascible silence of months , dispelling the accumulating ill-will of her pent resentment , with hasty , disjointed words : '' ... quick as you can ... the doctor . '' A hoarse , thin cry sounded from within the Makimmon dwelling . It fluctuated with intolerable pain and died abruptly away , instantly absorbed in the brooding calm of the valley , lost in the vast , indifferent serenity of noon . But its echo persisted in Gordon 's thoughts and emotions . He was sitting by the stream , before his house ; and , as the cry had risen , he had moved suddenly , as though an invisible hand had touched him upon the shoulder . He sat reflected on the sliding water against the reflection of the far , blue sky .