about
noon, sat
* * * * * The gayety of the Indian Summer dance was now at its height . The mellow sunlight fell straight down through the arching green branches of the bordering trees . The earth , still warm with the summer 's fires , lifted a cool face to the soft breeze . The dancers growing tired and hungry about noon , sat down on the greensward in little groups , while the baskets were taken from their hiding-places and the simple feast was soon spread . The black men served it with the coffee which they had heated over the campfire built at some distance in the forest . The homespun linen of the table-cloths looked very white on the dark green of the rich grass . But the single square of fine damask from Ruth 's basket was not whiter than its humble neighbors , and she did not think of her finer linen or richer food .