noon
Ah , well ; if it must be borne , I shall bear it . '' But , in spite of the best of intentions , he could not bear it , and sat down by the open window and gazed with admiration at the retreating clouds and the reappearing moon . It was morning before Nekhludoff could fall asleep , and therefore he woke up late . At noon seven men , chosen from among the peasants at the foreman 's invitation , came into the orchard , where the foreman had arranged a table and benches by digging posts into the ground , and fixing boards on the top , under the apple trees . It took some time before the peasants could be persuaded to put on their caps and to sit down on the benches . Especially firm was the ex-soldier , who to-day had bark shoes on . He stood erect , holding his cap as they do at funerals , according to military regulation .