noon
-LCB- A Hen Conference : p79.jpg -RCB- July 16th . Phoebe and I have been to a Hen Conference at Buffington . It was for the purpose of raising the standard of the British Hen , and our local Countess , who is much interested in poultry , was in the chair . It was a very learned body , but Phoebe had coached me so well that at the noon recess I could talk confidently with the members , discussing the various advantages of True and Crossed Minorcas , Feverels , Andalusians , Cochin Chinas , Shanghais , and the White Leghorn . -LRB- Phoebe , when she pronounces this word , leaves out the `` h '' and bears down heavily on the last syllable , so that it rhymes with begone ! -RRB- As I was sitting under the trees waiting for Phoebe to finish some shopping in the village , a travelling poultry-dealer came along and offered to sell me a silver Wyandotte pullet and cockerel . This was a new breed to me and I asked the price , which proved to be more than I should pay for a hat in Bond Street .