about noon
I ca n't help it , Clem , they must rub on somehow ; and if you can make Theodore happy , the rest does not so much signify . ' Not signify ! Clement did not know whether he was standing on his head or his heels , and never guessed that not only was she too much absorbed in the present thoroughly to realise the absent , but that she would not venture to send orders based on his report , which in her secret soul she qualified by his love of importance and interference . However , he went away , and was not seen again all the ensuing week -- the early part of which was very trying , for the fever recurred regularly about noon and midnight , and always brought rambling , which since that conversation with Wilmet , had taken the turn of talking about being buried in a surplice , and of continually recurring to the 134th Psalm , which , it was now remembered , Lance had shortly before taken part in , over the grave of an old lay-vicar , who , boy and man , had served the Cathedral for nearly sixty years . Often , too , the poor little fellow seemed struggling with some sense of demerit -- whether positive disgrace , or suspicion , or the general Christian feeling of unworthiness , Wilmet and John Harewood could never make out ; and they did not choose to speak of these wanderings either to Will or to Mr. Beccles . In the intervals of consciousness , the thought of danger and death seemed to be lost in the weakness of exhaustion , and the dread of whatever brought back the pain , from which there was no respite except in cool air and perfect quiet . The least movement intensified it , and brought on the sickness that showed the brain to be still affected ; and still worse was any endeavour to attend to the shortest and simplest devotions , when Mr. Harewood attempted them .