noon
Miss Merlin no longer sat under the green shadows of the old elm tree ; there were no green shadows there ; the tree was stripped of its leaves and seemed but the skeleton of itself , and the snow lay around its foot . The season , far from interrupting the intimacy between the heiress and her favorite , only served to draw them even more closely together . This was the way of it . At the noon recess all the pupils of the school would rush madly out upon the lawn to engage in the rough , healthful , and exciting game of snowballing each other -- all except Claudia , who was far too fine a lady to enter into any such rude sport , and Ishmael , whose attendance upon her own presence she would peremptorily demand . While all the others were running over each other in their haste to get out , Claudia would pass into the empty drawing room , and seating herself in the deep easy chair , would call to her `` gentleman in waiting , '' saying : `` Come , my young troubadour , bring your guitar and sit down upon this cushion at my feet and play an accompaniment to my song , as I sing and work . '' And Ishmael , filled with joy , would fly to obey the royal mandate ; and soon seated at the beauty 's feet , in the glow of the warm wood fire and in the glory of her heavenly presence , he would lose himself in a delicious dream of love and music . No one ever interrupted their tête-à-tête .