noon
I dare not quote to her the words of sulky Achilles : The distant Trojans never injured me , for that argument would have sounded even weaker to her than the former one . She had never read Homer in any language , of course , but she wouldhave quickly made me tell her about Achilles , and when the end came , with miserable Hector dragged thrice round the walls of besieged Troy -- Montevideo was called Modern Troy , she knew -- then she would have turned my argument against me and bidden me go and serve the Uruguayan President as Achilles served Hector . Seeing me silent , she would turn indignantly away only for a moment , however ; the bright smile would quickly return , and she would exclaim , `` No , no , Richard , I shall not forget my promise , though I sometimes think you try to make me do so . '' It was noon : the house was quiet , for Doña Mercedes had retired after breakfast to take her unfailing siesta , leaving us to our conversation . In that spacious , cool room where I had first reposed in the house , I was lying on the sofa smoking a cigarette . Dolores , seating herself near me with her guitar , said , `` Now let me play and sing you to sleep with something very soft . '' But the more she played and sang the further was I from un-needed slumber .