noon
It had happened more than once that he had found Ramona at the willows by the brook , and had talked with her there . The first time it happened , it was a chance ; after that never a chance again , for Alessandro went often seeking the spot , hoping to find her . In Ramona 's mind too , not avowed , but half consciously , there was , if not the hope of seeing him there , at least the memory that it was there they had met . It was a pleasant spot , -- cool and shady even at noon , and the running water always full of music . Ramona often knelt there of a morning , washing out a bit of lace or a handkerchief ; and when Alessandro saw her , it went hard with him to stay away . At such moments the vision returned to him vividly of that first night when , for the first second , seeing her face in the sunset glow , he had thought her scarce mortal . It was not that he even now thought her less a saint ; but ah , how well he knew her to be human !