noon
He kindled his fire ; the branches crackled and burned , and she knelt beside the blaze and held her hands to it . `` I was never here by night before , '' she said . `` Yes , once , '' said Young Gerard . `` You often came , did n't you , to gather flowers in the morning and to swim in the river at noon . But once before you were here in the night . '' `` Was I ? '' said she .