noon
`` You have construed me , sir . Since I set out , just thirteen hours since , it has been my sole viaticum . '' As he spoke he put his hand nervously to his forehead , and withdrew it . `` Then , '' thought I , `` you must have started in the middle of the night , '' for it was now little past noon . But looking at his face , I saw clearly that it was drawn and pinched with fasting . Whereupon I remembered my flask and sandwich-box , and pulling them out , assured him , with some apology for the offer , that they were at his service . His joy was childish .