noon
So after feeding Bumper a few more green leaves , she flew away to find the garden . She was gone so long that Bumper got very restless and discouraged . The few leaves had n't satisfied his hunger ; they had merely stimulated his desire for more . It was past noon when Mrs. Sparrow finally reappeared at the entrance to the sewer . `` What news ? '' asked Bumper , eagerly . `` Nothing that 's good , Mr. White Rabbit .