noon
`` He snatched at my dress , but I evaded him , so that he jumped to his feet and attempted to lay hold of me . Then I walked quietly to meet him and said , ` That 's right , now come along . ' And then I led him right through a dense thicket of thorns , down the steep slope , at the foot of which the deep water lay like a dark mirror . Down there broadleaved convolvuli and creepers had formed a natural bower above a projecting block of stone , in which even at high noon one could sit almost in the dark . `` Thither I led him . '' ` Upon my word , it is delightful here , little one , ' he said , and comfortably stretched himself upon the stone , so that his feet hung down to the water . ` Come , sit down at my side ; ... there is room for us both . '