noon
SOME FAMILIAR GUESTS . IX . AN INSPECTION OF LAKELANDS X. SKEPSEY IN MOTION A gentleman , noteworthy for a lively countenance and a waistcoat to match it , crossing London Bridge at noon on a gusty April day , was almost magically detached from his conflict with the gale by some sly strip of slipperiness , abounding in that conduit of the markets , which had more or less adroitly performed the trick upon preceding passengers , and now laid this one flat amid the shuffle of feet , peaceful for the moment as the uncomplaining who have gone to Sabrina beneath the tides . He was unhurt , quite sound , merely astonished , he remarked , in reply to the inquiries of the first kind helper at his elbow ; and it appeared an acceptable statement of his condition . He laughed , shook his coat-tails , smoothed the back of his head rather thoughtfully , thankfully received his runaway hat , nodded bright beams to right and left , and making light of the muddy stigmas imprinted by the pavement , he scattered another shower of his nods and smiles around , to signify , that as his good friends would wish , he thoroughly felt his legs and could walk unaided . And he was in the act of doing it , questioning his familiar behind the waistcoat amazedly , to tell him how such a misadventure could have occurred to him of all men , when a glance below his chin discomposed his outward face .