noon
`` Yea , '' said Ralph , `` in my tales it is . '' Said the old man still softlier : `` Had I deemed that true I had tried the adventure , whatever might lie beyond the mountains , but -LRB- and he sighed withal -RRB- I deem it untrue . '' Therewith dropped the talk of that matter : and in sooth Ralph was loath to make many words thereof , lest his eagerness shine through , and all the story of him be known . Anon it was noon , and the lord bade all men stay for meat : so his serving men busied them about his dinner , and David went with them . Then the men-at-arms bade Ralph sit among them and share their meat . So they sat down all by the wayside , and they spake kindly and friendly to Ralph , and especially their captain , a man somewhat low of stature , but long-armed like the Lord , a man of middle age , beardless and spare of body , but wiry and tough-looking , with hair of the hue of the dust of the sandstone quarry . This man fell a-talking with Ralph , and asked him of the manner of tilting and courteous jousting between knights in the countries of knighthood , till that talk dropped between them .