noon
`` I can scarcely compliment you upon it . Your sun goes badly , and in order to make ourselves agree with it , we have to keep putting our clocks forward so much or back so much . '' `` And by the cloven foot , '' cried this weird personage , `` you are right , my master ! My sun does not always mark noon at the same moment as your clocks ; but some day it will be known that this is because of the inequality of the earth 's transfer , and a mean noon will be invented which will regulate this irregularity ! '' `` Shall I live till then ? '' asked the old man , with glistening eyes . `` Without doubt , '' replied the little old man , laughing .