noon
At that Nick felt a very queer choking in his own throat , and did not rest quite easy in his mind until he had given the silver buckle from his cloak to a boy who stood crying with cold and hunger in the street , and begged a farthing of him for the love of the good God . Then came a thaw , with mist and fog so thick that people were lost in their own streets , and knocked at their next-door neighbor 's gate to ask the way home . All day long , down by the Thames drums beat upon the wharves and bells ding-donged to guide the watermen ashore ; but most of those who needs must fare abroad went over London Bridge , because there , although they might in no wise see , it felt , at least , as if the world were still beneath their feet . At noon the air was muddy brown , with a bitter taste like watered smoke ; at night it was a blinding pall ; and though , after mid-December , by order of the Council , every alderman and burgess hung a light before his door , torches , links , and candles only sputtered feebly in the gloom , of no more use than jack-o ' - lanterns gone astray , and none but blind men knew the roads . The city watch was doubled everywhere ; and all night long their shouts went up and down -- '' 'T is what o'clock , and a foggy night ! '' -- and right and left their hurrying staves came thumping helplessly along the walls to answer cries of `` Murder ! '' and of `` Help !