midday
He wondered also if that moment was not for many of them a let-down , a throwing up of ideals , a helpless retrograding and surrender to the brutalizing spirit of war . But it could never be so for him . It might have been had not that girl come into his life . The bell for the midday meal roused Kurt from his profound reverie , and he plodded back to the house . Down through the barnyard gate he saw the hired men coming , and a second glance discovered to him that two unknown men were with them . Watching for a moment , Kurt recognized the two strangers that had been talking to Mr. Anderson 's driver . They seemed to be talking earnestly now .