summer’s noon
Greif had come home for the last time but one , and his next return would be final . During months and years the baroness and her daughter had been slowly preparing for the great event . The most unheard-of economies had been imagined and carried out in the attempt to give Hilda a little outfit for her wedding , just enough to hide the desperate poverty in which they had lived . Many a long winter 's evening had the two ladies spun the fine flax by the smouldering fire ; many a long day had Hilda and Berbel spent at the primitive loom in the sunny room of the south tower ; through many a summer 's noon had the long breadths of fine linen lain bleaching on the clean grey stone of the ramparts , watered by the faithful servant 's careful hand . Endless had been the thought expended before cutting into each piece of the precious material ; endless the labour lavished upon the fine embroideries by Hilda herself , upon the minute stitching by her brave-hearted mother . But the work had progressed well , and the finished garments that lay amidst bundles of sweet-smelling dried herbs in the great old press would have done credit to the spinning and weaving and handiwork of skilled craftsmen . It was fortunate that there had been time for it all , else Hilda would have made but a poor figure on the great day .