nearly noon
But , by now , Louise was at the end of her strength , and Maurice began to fear that he would never get her home ; she could with difficulty drag one foot after the other , and had to rest every few minutes , so that it was nearly ten o'clock before they entered the house . In her room , he knelt before her and took off her boots ; Amalie carried her supper up on a tray . She hardly touched it : her eyes were closing with fatigue , and she was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow . Next day she did not waken till nearly noon , and she remained in bed till after dinner . For the rest of the day , she sat in the armchair . Maurice wished to read to her , but she preferred quiet -- did not even want to be talked to . The weather was on her nerves , she said -- for it had grown very sultry , and the sky was overcast .