midday
Thus spake the maiden , being ashamed to make mention of her own marriage . But Alcinous knew , and smiled to himself , as he ordered his thralls to prepare the waggon . So when they had harnessed the mules , Nausicaä and her handmaids brought the soiled garments , and bestowed them behind the seat . And her mother brought a basket with food for the midday meal and oil for her daughter and the other maidens when they took their bath . Then they took their seats , Nausicaä grasped the reins , and they went off at a sharp trot towards the riverside . After a pleasant drive , they came to the place where stood a row of cisterns on the river 's bank . There they unharnessed the mules , and left them to crop the sweet clover in the water-meadows .