noon
When that 's the next thing , we 'll just sit down , wag our tails , and die . -- There ! '' He gave him the last piece of his meat , and they trudged on for some time without speaking . The sun was very hot , for it was past noon an hour or two , when they came to a public-house , with a pump before it , and a trough . Clare grew very thirsty when he saw the pump , and imagined the rush of a thick sparkling curve from its spout . But its handle was locked with a chain , to keep men and women from having water instead of beer . He went with longing to the trough , but the water in it was so unclean that , thirsty as he was , he could not look on it even as a last resource .