noon
`` It 's fine talking , but it 's mighty near God 's truth all the same ! '' He moved restlessly , then took his crutch and beat a measure upon the sunken floor . His faded blue eyes , set in a thousand wrinkles , stared down upon and across the great view of ridge and spur and lovely valleys in between . The air at this height was clear and strong as wine , the noon sunshine bright , not hot , the murmur in the leaves and the sound of Thunder Run rather crisp and gay than slumbrous . `` If it had to come , '' said Tom , `` why could n't it ha ' come when I was younger ? If ' t were n't for that darned fall out o ' Nofsinger 's hayloft I 'd go , anyhow ! '' `` Then I see , '' retorted Sairy , `` what Brother Dame meant by good comin ' out o ' evil !