noon
Marcian was very sensible of such solemn influence . More than once , in traversing this region , he had been moved to bow his head in devotion purer than that which commonly inspired his prayers , but to-day he knew not a moment 's calm . All within him was turbid , subject to evil thoughts . A little before noon he made his first halt . Amid the ruins of a spacious villa two or three peasant families had their miserable home , with a vineyard , a patch of tilled soil , and a flock of goats for their sustenance . Here the travellers , sheltered from the fierce sun , ate of the provisions they carried , and lay resting for a couple of hours . Marcian did not speak with the peasants , but he heard the voice of a woman loud in lamentation , and Sagaris told him that it was for the death of a child , who , straying yesterday at nightfall , had been killed by a wolf .