about noon
inquired the little girl . `` Then we use the hot springs that bubble up in another part of the palace , '' Merla answered . `` But the sun is the best to cook by . '' So it was no surprise to Trot when , about noon , dinner was announced and all the mermaids , headed by their queen and their guests , swam into another spacious room where a great , long table was laid . The dishes were of polished gold and dainty-cut glass , and the cloth and napkins of fine gossamer . Around the table were ranged rows of couches for the mermaids to recline upon as they ate . Only the nobility and favorites of Queen Aquareine were invited to partake of this repast , for Clia explained that tables were set for the other mermaids in different parts of the numerous palaces .