noon
The red juice escaped and ran in streams over the yellow earth . Laughing and merry the four young people passed among the servants eating grapes to their heart 's content , telling stories of other days , leaving the future to unfold for itself . They did not try to foresee it . At noon , they went to the cool , shady room overlooking the garden and ate the cold meats and fresh green salad , luscious fruit and white goat 's cheese , finishing the meal with sweet cakes and a delicious drink made from the fresh juice of the grapes just gathered . Before they ate , the freedmen stood , respectfully waiting , while Octavia , in a low voice , offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the food so bountifully provided . Only a small part of the servants , formerly slaves , were Christians , and Octavia had often been warned that her life and that of her children was in danger through her open defiance of the priests and declaration of her own Christian faith . `` I trust in God , '' was all that she would say .