noon in the
middle of August
There they sat talking in the shade , till their dinners should be ready . Nan Redfurn was so far from feeling the day to be hot , that when her cold ague-fit came on , she begged to be allowed to go down to the kitchen fire . Little George stood staring at her for some time , and then ran away ; and Mildred , not liking to be in the same room with a woman who looked as she did , and who was a prisoner , stole out too , though she had been desired to watch the woman till dinner should be ready . Ailwin was so struck with compassion , that she fetched her warmest woollen stockings and her winter cloak of linsey-woolsey , -- it was such a piteous thing to hear a woman 's teeth chattering in her head , in that way , at noon in the middle of August . Having wrapped her up , she put her on a stool , close to the great kitchen fire ; and drew out the screen that was used only in winter , to keep off the draughts from the door . If the poor soul was not warm in that corner , nothing could make her so . Then Ailwin began to sing to cheer her heart , and to be amazingly busy in cooking dinner for three additional persons .