noon
How far is it from this ? ' ` Happen fourteen mile o'er th ' hills ; and a rough road , ' he answered . A sudden impulse seized me to visit Thrushcross Grange . It was scarcely noon , and I conceived that I might as well pass the night under my own roof as in an inn . Besides , I could spare a day easily to arrange matters with my landlord , and thus save myself the trouble of invading the neighbourhood again . Having rested awhile , I directed my servant to inquire the way to the village ; and , with great fatigue to our beasts , we managed the distance in some three hours . I left him there , and proceeded down the valley alone .