midday
A few quickly drew their coats on , intending to go home for a mouthful of warm food , while some went to the beer-cellars of the neighborhood . Those who lived far from their homes sat on the lathe-beds and ate their food there . When the food was consumed they gathered together in groups , gossiping , or chaffing one another . Pelle often made use of the midday rest to run over to the `` Ark '' in order to greet Father Lasse , who had obtained work in one of the granaries and was now able to get along quite nicely . One day at noon Pelle was standing in the midst of a group of men , making a drawing of a conceited , arrogant foreman with a scrap of chalk on a large iron plate . The drawing evoked much merriment . Some of his comrades had in the meantime been disputing as to the elevating machinery of a submarine .