Sentence:  For an <WSD>instant</WSD> John longed for the sound of the bells of Noyon-la-Sainte , the touch of his mother 's hand , the lilt of Charles 's voice in the square raftered rooms , his father 's bass tones rumbling to the canons , and the sight of the beloved bishop . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)