midday
Let us hob and nob with Death -- _ Tennyson _ Though nothing of the vault except the roof was visible from where I lay , and so I could not see these visitors , yet I heard every word spoken , and soon made out one voice as being Master Ratsey 's . This discovery gave me no surprise but much solace , for I thought that if the worst happened and I was discovered , I should find one friend with whom I could plead for life . ` It is well the earth gave way ' , the sexton was saying , ` on a night when we were here to find it . I was in the graveyard myself after midday , and all was snug and tight then . ` Twould have been awkward enough to have the hole stand open through the day , for any passer-by to light on . ' There were four or five men in the vault already , and I could hear more coming down the passage , and guessed from their heavy footsteps that they were carrying burdens . There was a sound , too , of dumping kegs down on the ground , with a swish of liquor inside them , and then the noise of casks being moved .