noon
But she glanced sideways at his face , for she knew that something was in the air . She was not sure what to expect of him just then , but she knew that there was something to expect . Her instinct told her that he meant to speak and to say more than he had yet said . It told her that he was going to ask her to marry him , then and there , in the blazing noon , under the vines , but her modesty scouted the thought as savouring of vanity . At all events she would prevent him from doing it if she could . `` Lady Johnstone seems to like this place , '' she said , with a sudden effort at conversation . `` She says that she means to make all sorts of expeditions . ''