noon
It was the general rendezvous and arena of the surrounding village . Behind this a steep slope rose high into the sky , merging in a wide and open down , now littered with sheep newly shorn . The upland by its height completely sheltered the mill and village from north winds , making summers of springs , reducing winters to autumn temperatures , and permitting myrtle to flourish in the open air . The heaviness of noon pervaded the scene , and under its influence the sheep had ceased to feed . Nobody was standing at the Cross , the few inhabitants being indoors at their dinner . No human being was on the down , and no human eye or interest but Anne 's seemed to be concerned with it . The bees still worked on , and the butterflies did not rest from roving , their smallness seeming to shield them from the stagnating effect that this turning moment of day had on larger creatures .