noon
Firmly in his stirrups the parson planted his feet ; and the heart within him was very proud . CHAPTER XII . The borough town of Lansmere was situated in the county adjoining that which contained the village of Hazeldean . Late at noon the parson crossed the little stream which divided the two shires , and came to an inn , which was placed at an angle , where the great main road branched off into two directions , the one leading towards Lansmere , the other going more direct to London . At this inn the pad stopped , and put down both ears with the air of a pad who has made up her mind to bait . And the parson himself , feeling very warm and somewhat sore , said to the pad , benignly , `` It is just , -- thou shalt have corn and water ! '' Dismounting , therefore , and finding himself very stiff as soon as he reached / terra firma / , the parson consigned the pad to the hostler , and walked into the sanded parlour of the inn , to repose himself on a very hard Windsor chair .