midday
The sun had disappeared with the child ; suddenly everything became grey . Käte stood motionless looking in the direction of Longfaye . She stood until she shivered with cold , and then hung heavily on her husband 's arm ; she went along to the inn with dragging feet , as though she had grown tired all at once . The mist began to conceal the bright midday . Cold damp air , which wets more than rain , made their clothes clammy . The stinging flies from the swamps flew in big swarms through the door and windows of the inn ; a smouldering peat-fire was burning within , fanned to a bright flame by means of dry fir twigs , and the flies clung to the wall near the fire-place and to the ceiling -- no , they would not die yet . Autumn had come , sun and warmth had disappeared from the Venn , it was wise to flee now .