midday
Glory be to Thee , O Lord ! '' At last he smiled , looked upwards at the sky , and , putting the psalter in his pocket , said : `` Finis ! '' A minute later the chaise had started on the road . As though it were going backwards and not forwards , the travellers saw the same scene as they had before midday . The low hills were still plunged in the lilac distance , and no end could be seen to them . There were glimpses of high grass and heaps of stones ; strips of stubble land passed by them and still the same rooks , the same hawk , moving its wings with slow dignity , moved over the steppe . The air was more sultry than ever ; from the sultry heat and the stillness submissive nature was spellbound into silence ... .