noon
To gather its flowers , red and white , to pace with him cool paved walks between walls of scented box , to sit beside him beneath the cherry-tree or upon the grassy terrace , looking out upon the wide , idle river , -- it was dreamy bliss , a happiness too rare to last . There was no harm ; not that she ever dreamed there could be . The house overlooked garden and terrace ; the slaves passed and repassed the open windows ; Juba came and went ; now and then Mistress Deborah herself would sally forth to receive instructions concerning this or that from the master of the house . And every day , at noon , the slaves drew to all the shutters save those of the master 's room , and the minister 's wife and ward made their curtsies and went home . The latter , like a child , counted the hours upon the clock until the next morning ; but then she was not used to happiness , and the wine of it made her slightly drunken . The master of Fair View told himself that there was infection in this lotus air of Virginia . A fever ran in his veins that made him languid of will , somewhat sluggish of thought , willing to spend one day like another , and all in a long dream .