noon
It was the first of May , and the sun had passed the noon line in a bright sky , causing the shadow of Peter Taylor to fall east of north and infusing his substance with the delightful languor called Spring Fever . Leaning upon an idle spade , Peter watched the lazy motions of a negro slave whom he had directed to trim a level lawn ornamented with flowerbeds . The English origin of the overseer was revealed by his looks and in his speech . `` Scipio , ` ave you ` oed the corn ? ''