noon
To return from this tedious but necessary glimpse at the position and belief of these people to Joan and the washing , it is to be noted that she quickly made up for lost time , and , without further mentioning the incidents of her morning 's excursion , began to work . She pulled up her sleeves , dragged her dress about her waist , then started to cleanse the thick flannels her father wore at sea , his long-tailed shirts and woolen stockings . The Tregenzas were well-to-do folk , and did not need to use the open spaces of the village for drying of clothes . Joan presently set up a line among the plum-trees , and dawdled over the hanging out of wet garments , for it was now noon , sunny , mild , and fresh , with a cool salt breeze off the sea . The winter repose of the bee-butts had been broken at last , and the insects were busy with the plum-blossom and among the little green flowerets on the gooseberry bushes . Beyond , sun-streaked and bright , extended apple-trees with whitewashed stems and a twinkle of crimson on their boughs , where buds grew ripe for the blowing . Joan yawned and blinked up at the sun to see if it was dinner time .