midday
From where he sat he could see an angry sunset like a black-winged dragon with belly of flame brooding over the town . The place wore an especial air of desolation . Paul felt depressed . Bathing in the pouring wet is a chilly sport , and his midday meal of cold potatoes had not been invigorating . These he had grabbed , and , having done them up hastily in newspaper , had bolted with them out of the house . He had been fined heavily for slackness during the week , and Mr. Button 's inevitable wrath at docked wages he desired to undergo as late as possible . Then , the sun had blazed furiously during the last six imprisoned days , and now the long-looked for hours of freedom were disfigured by rain and blight .