midday
She had come home , prepared to be very nice to him , and she was finding it easy . `` And you never answered , '' said Crittenden . `` No ; and I do n't know why . '' The birds were coming from shade and picket -- for midday had been warm -- into the fields and along the hedges , and were fluttering from one fence-rail to another ahead of them and piping from the bushes by the wayside and the top of young weeds . `` You wrote that you were -- ` getting over it . ' In the usual way ? '' Crittenden glanced covertly at Judith 's face .