midday
It almost , as Meg said , amounted to ancestor-worship . Freddy 's choice of a profession had been his one act of emancipation . He had , according to family tradition , been destined for either the navy or the army , and it had taken no little strength of character to cut the first link in the chain . When Freddy had gone to lie down and the little hut was left to its midday silence -- the tropical breathless silence of Upper Egypt , when the sun is so hot that even a lizard would not venture from its shelter -- Meg sat down on a chair close to the table , and laid her head on her arms . She was tired , tired , tired . She must forget things for a little time , before she even tried to review the situation , or think out what was best to be done . If only she could will herself into absolute unconsciousness for a little time , how sweet it would be !