noon
Then back to the house of her friends , who kept the principal inn , and more tough chicken and tender salad and red wine for supper . And on the next day they had all gone down to the meagre vineyards , half way to San Vito and just below the thick chestnut woods which belong to the Marchese and feudal lord of that ancient town . And there amongst the showers of reddening vine leaves , she had helped to gather the last grapes of the year , with song and jest and laughter . At noon they climbed the hill again in the October sun , and dined upon the remains of the previous day 's feast ; then , singing still , they had started on their homeward downward way , happy and not half tired yet when they reached Subiaco in the evening glow . They came trooping through the town to the little piazza in which the doctor 's house was situated . They separated here , some to go up to the higher part , while others were to go down in the same direction as Annetta . The girl looked up at the doctor 's windows , and her small eyes flashed viciously .