noon
She often called him to her side ; interested himself in his studies and in his health , praised his assiduity , but warned him not to confine himself too closely to his books , as ambitious students had been known before now to sacrifice their lives to the pursuit of an unattainable fame . She told him that she meant to interest her father in his fortunes ; and that she hoped in another year the judge would be able to procure for him the situation of usher in some school , or tutor in some family . Although she was younger than Ishmael , yet her tone and manner in addressing him was that of an elder as well as of a superior ; and blended the high authority of a young queen with the deep tenderness of a little mother . For instance , when he would come out at noon , she would often beckon him to her side , as she sat in her garden chair , under the shadow of the great elm tree , with a book of poetry or a piece of needlework in her hands . And when he came , she would make him sit down on the grass at her feet , and she would put her small , white hand on his burning forehead , and look in his face with her beautiful , dark eyes , and murmur softly : `` Poor boy ; your head aches ; I know it does . You have been sitting under the blazing sun in that south window of the schoolroom , so absorbed in your studies that you forgot to close your shutters . '' And she would take a vial of eau-de-cologne from her pocket , pour a portion of it upon a handkerchief , and with her own fair hand bathe his heated brows ; at the same time administering a queenly reprimand , or a motherly caution , as pride or tenderness happened to predominate in her capricious mood .