noon
She takes no cold , and no fever , with or without ague . '' After some further conversation I left him to steal away unobserved on his own account , and set out for a ramble in the hope of encountering Rima and winning her to talk to me . My quest did not succeed : not a glimpse of her delicate shadowy form did I catch among the trees ; and not one note from her melodious lips came to gladden me . At noon I returned to the house , where I found food placed ready for me , and knew that she had come there during my absence and had not been forgetful of my wants . `` Shall I thank you for this ? '' I said . `` I ask you for heavenly nectar for the sustentation of the higher winged nature in me , and you give me a boiled sweet potato , toasted strips of sun-dried pumpkins , and a handful of parched maize !