noon
What a glorious day it was , and what spirits it put everybody in ! The sun shone with an intensity almost torrid ; the spot on which they had landed was green and bright , like a slice out of the realms of Fairy-land . No zephyr dared to disturb the leaves or the glassy water ; great clouds hung in the bright blue sky -- rotund , fat , and heavy , like mountains of wool or butter . Everything in nature seemed to have gone to sleep at noon , as if Spanish principles had suddenly imbued the universe . And what a business they had , to be sure , with the spreading of the viands and the kindling of the fire ! The latter was the first duty . Hector said he would undertake it , but after attempting to light it with damp sticks he gave it up and assisted the ladies to lay the cloth on the grass .