noon
Attached to the convent was an extensive garden , full of huge trees that had , apparently , stood there for centuries , so bent , gnarled and aged were they . An ancient gardener , with a flowing beard as white as snow and scanty locks of the same spotless hue , aided by two or three assistants almost as ancient as himself , attended to the lawns and vast flower-beds , the latter being kept constantly filled with plants of gorgeous bloom and exquisite fragrance . The picturesque appearance of the garden contrasted strongly and strangely with the rigid and staid aspect of the convent edifice , and this garden was the one spot where the pupils felt at home and thoroughly enjoyed themselves . They were allowed to walk there at noon and towards twilight in the evening , under the supervision of Sister Agatha , a sharp-sighted and vigilant nun , who never failed to rebuke and correct her vivacious charges for even the slightest infraction of discipline . Still , the girls enjoyed themselves in the garden , for its extent and the fact that Sister Agatha could not be everywhere at once enabled the frisky and light-hearted pupils to indulge in many an escapade . One noon Zuleika , who was in an unusually despondent frame of mind , strayed from the rest of her companions and strolled beneath the centenarian trees . Unconsciously she approached the lofty wall of the garden .