midday
He had a book of instructions and melodies printed in highly-simplified and explanatory bars , which he balanced on his knee while he struggled in their execution . He was a youth of large , palpable bones , joints and knuckles ; his face was long and preternaturally pale , and bore an abstracted expression which deepened almost to idiocy when bent above the quavering , unaccountable accordion . The Vibard baby was alarmingly little , with a bluish face ; and , as if in protest against her father 's interminable noise , lay wrapped in a knitted red blanket without a murmur , without a stir of her midgelike form , hour upon hour . Some days after the Vibards ' arrival Gordon Makimmon was standing by the stable door , in the crisp flood of midday , when an ungainly young man strode about the corner of the dwelling and approached him . `` You 're Makimmon , '' he half queried , half asserted . `` I 'm Edgar Crandall , Alexander 's brother . '' He took off his hat , and passed his hand in a quick gesture across his brow .