midday
A perpetual duel goes on between the heavens and their terrestrial interests . The barometer smooths , saddens , or makes merry their countenances , turn and turn about . From end to end of this street , formerly the Grand ' Rue de Saumur , the words : `` Here 's golden weather , '' are passed from door to door ; or each man calls to his neighbor : `` It rains louis , '' knowing well what a sunbeam or the opportune rainfall is bringing him . On Saturdays after midday , in the fine season , not one sou 's worth of merchandise can be bought from these worthy traders . Each has his vineyard , his enclosure of fields , and all spend two days in the country . This being foreseen , and purchases , sales , and profits provided for , the merchants have ten or twelve hours to spend in parties of pleasure , in making observations , in criticisms , and in continual spying . A housewife can not buy a partridge without the neighbors asking the husband if it were cooked to a turn .