noon
But now let us hold our peace of him till we be come nigher to his haunt . So they went on their way , and Birdalone said but little , while the wood-wife was of many words and gay . They made all diligence , for Birdalone was not soon wearied , and moreover as now she was anxious and eager to see what would befall , which she might not but deem would be something great . They went without stay till past noon , when they were come to a little shady dale wherethrough ran a clear stream ; there they rested and bathed them , and thereafter sat under the boughs and ate the dainty meat which the wood-wife provided , howsoever she came by it ; and when they had rested a while , the wood-wife turned the talk once more unto Arthur the Black Squire , and would have Birdalone tell her all nicely what manner of man he was ; and Birdalone was nothing loth thereto ; for had she her will she had talked of him day-long . NOW they go on again , no less speedily than before , and rest but little , until it was hard on an hour before sunset . And now Habundia began to go warily , as if they were come anigh to their journey 's end and the thing that they sought . They were come by now to a long bent of the forest well grown with big-boled oak-trees , not very close together , so that short fine greensward was all underneath them ; and Habundia went heedfully from bole to bole , as if she would be ready to cover herself if need were ; and Birdalone went after her , and was now flushed of face , and her eyes glittered , and her heart beat fast , and her legs trembled under her , as she went running from tree to tree .