about noon
Now is all said , my dear and my friend ; farewell , farewell ! '' Therewith she turned and went her ways toward the house in all speed , but making somewhat of a compass . And when she was gone , Walter knelt down and kissed the place where her feet had been , and arose thereafter , and made his way toward the house , he also , but slowly , and staying oft on his way . On the morrow morning Walter loitered a while about the house till the morn was grown old , and then about noon he took his bow and arrows and went into the woods to the northward , to get him some venison . He went somewhat far ere he shot him a fawn , and then he sat him down to rest under the shade of a great chestnut-tree , for it was not far past the hottest of the day . He looked around thence and saw below him a little dale with a pleasant stream running through it , and he bethought him of bathing therein , so he went down and had his pleasure of the water and the willowy banks ; for he lay naked a while on the grass by the lip of the water , for joy of the flickering shade , and the little breeze that ran over the down-long ripples of the stream . Then he did on his raiment , and began to come his ways up the bent , but had scarce gone three steps ere he saw a woman coming towards him from downstream .