noon
He pictured to himself the joys of a pastoral life , a community in which his opinions and influence would be matters of importance . He would be looked up to , and gradually , as his wealth grew , he would become interested in the world of politics , and he would -- He was dragged back to the present by a memory of the scene at the dugout , and quite suddenly he broke into a cold perspiration . He increased his pace , nor did those pleasant visions again return to him . It was well past noon when at last he halted for food and rest . He devoured his simple fare ravenously , but he gained no enjoyment therefrom . He was moody . At that moment he hated life ; he hated himself for his weak yielding to the pricks of conscience ; he hated the snow and ice about him for their deadening effect upon the world through which he was passing ; he hated the dreadful solitude with which he was surrounded .