noon
Methought it would be profitable for us , projectors of a happy life , to welcome this old gray shadow , and cherish him as one of us , and let him creep about our domain , in order that he might be a little merrier for our sakes , and we , sometimes , a little sadder for his . Human destinies look ominous without some perceptible intermixture of the sable or the gray . And then , too , should any of our fraternity grow feverish with an over-exulting sense of prosperity , it would be a sort of cooling regimen to slink off into the woods , and spend an hour , or a day , or as many days as might be requisite to the cure , in uninterrupted communion with this deplorable old Moodie ! Going homeward to dinner , I had a glimpse of him , behind the trunk of a tree , gazing earnestly towards a particular window of the farmhouse ; and by and by Priscilla appeared at this window , playfully drawing along Zenobia , who looked as bright as the very day that was blazing down upon us , only not , by many degrees , so well advanced towards her noon . I was convinced that this pretty sight must have been purposely arranged by Priscilla for the old man to see . But either the girl held her too long , or her fondness was resented as too great a freedom ; for Zenobia suddenly put Priscilla decidedly away , and gave her a haughty look , as from a mistress to a dependant . Old Moodie shook his head ; and again and again I saw him shake it , as he withdrew along the road ; and at the last point whence the farmhouse was visible , he turned and shook his uplifted staff .