noon
he said thoughtfully ; `` A blessin ' to the village , an ' a blessin ' to ` imself ! He 'd a bin a fine man spoilt , if a woman ` ad ever got ` old on ` im , -- a fine man spoilt , jes ' like me ! '' An appreciative grin at his own expense spread among the furrows of his face at this consideration ; -- then he trotted Two days later on , when Walden was at work in his own room seriously considering the points of his sermon for the coming Sunday , his ` head man about the place , ' Bainton , made a sudden appearance on the lawn and abruptly halted there , looking intently up at the sky , as though taking observations of a comet at noon . This was a customary trick of his resorted to whenever he wished to intrude his presence during forbidden hours . John saw him plainly enough from where he sat busily writing , though for a few minutes he pretended not to see . But as Bainton remained immovable and apparently rooted to the ground , and as it was likely that there he would remain till positively told to go , his master made a virtue of necessity , and throwing down his pen , went to the window .