noon
But most commonly it was deemed that the devils swarmed amidst of its thickets , and that wheresoever a man sought to , who was once environed by it , ever it was the Gate of Hell whereto he came . And the said wood was called Evilshaw . Nevertheless the cheaping-town throve not ill ; for whatso evil things haunted Evilshaw , never came they into Utterhay in such guise that men knew them , neither wotted they of any hurt that they had of the Devils of Evilshaw . Now in the said cheaping-town , on a day , it was market and high noon , and in the market-place was much people thronging ; and amidst of them went a woman , tall , and strong of aspect , of some thirty winters by seeming , black-haired , hook-nosed and hawk-eyed , not so fair to look on as masterful and proud . She led a great grey ass betwixt two panniers , wherein she laded her marketings . But now she had done her chaffer , and was looking about her as if to note the folk for her disport ; but when she came across a child , whether it were borne in arms or led by its kinswomen , or were going alone , as were some , she seemed more heedful of it , and eyed it more closely than aught else . So she strolled about till she was come to the outskirts of the throng , and there she happened on a babe of some two winters , which was crawling about on its hands and knees , with scarce a rag upon its little body .