noon
There is not such another bathing-dress in Oldport , nor such a figure to wear it . '' And she put both her arms round that supple , stately waist , that might have belonged to a Greek goddess , or to some queen in the Nibelungen Lied . The party watched the swimmers as they struck out over the clear expanse . It was high noon ; the fishing-boats were all off , but a few pleasure-boats swung different ways at their moorings , in the perfect calm . The white light-house stood reflected opposite , at the end of its long pier ; a few vessels lay at anchor , with their sails up to dry , but with that deserted look which coasters in port are wont to wear . A few fishes dimpled the still surface , and as the three swam out farther and farther , their merry voices still sounded close at hand . Suddenly they all clapped their hands and called ; then pointed forward to the light-house , across the narrow harbor .