about an hour before
noon
The view from the windows revealed that they were very high up . There was a bit of castle wall to be seen below , and beyond a sea of forest , the dark masses of pine throwing out the lighter , more delicate sweeps of beech , and pale purple distance beyond -- not another building within view , giving a sense of vast solitude to Eleanor 's eyes , more dreary than the sea at Dunbar , and far more changeless . An occasional bird was all the variety to be hoped for . By and by Barbe brought a message that her masters requested the ladies ' presence at the meal , a dinner , in fact , served about an hour before noon . Eleanor greatly demurred , but Barbe strongly advised consent , ` Or my young lord will be coming up here , ' she said ; ` they both wish to have speech of you , and would have been here before now , if my old lord were not so lame , and the young one so shy , the poor child ! ' ` Shy , ' exclaimed Eleanor , ` after what he has dared to do to us ! ' ` All the more for that very reason , ' said Barbe .