midday
A breath of soft air , bearing the odor of warm grass and the distant sounds of the country , swept in immediately through these openings , mingling with the slightly damp air of the room , inclosed by the thick walls of the castle . `` Ah , that is good ! '' said Annette , taking a full breath . The eyes of the two women had turned toward the outside and now gazed , beneath the blue sky , lightly veiled by the midday haze which was reflected on the meadows impregnated with sunshine , at the long and verdant lawns of the park , with its groups of trees here and there , and its perspective opening to the yellow fields , illuminated as far as the eye could see by the golden gleam of ripe grain . `` We will take a long walk after breakfast , '' said the Countess . `` We might walk as far as Berville , following the river , for it will be too warm on the plain . '' `` Yes , mamma , and let us take Julio to scare up some partridges . ''