noon in summer
She sank down on the broad , old-fashioned window seat , and leaned her cheek against the leaded panes of glass . The bees were humming outside . She listened to their music . It was dull and dreamy , heavy like a golden noon in summer time . And then the white lids fell over her eyes , and the hum of the bees faded from her ears , and she heard another music that made her woman 's heart leap up , she heard the first tiny murmur of a new-born child . It was sweeter than the hum of bees . It was sweeter than the soul the lute gave up to the ears of Nature when Orpheus touched the strings .