midday
The two land-girls had finished giving food and water to the cattle and a special mush to new-born calves . Everything was now in order for the night , and Janet , standing on the steps of the farm-house , rang a bell , which meant that supper would be ready in a few minutes . The two partners and their employees were soon gathered round the table in the kitchen , which was also the dining-room . It was a cold meal of bacon , with lettuce , bread and jam , some tea made on a `` Tommy 's cooker , '' and potatoes which Janet , who was for the present housekeeper and cook , produced hot and steaming from the hay-box to which she had consigned them after the midday dinner . A small oil-lamp had been lit , and through the open windows afterglow and moonrise streamed in to mingle with its light . There was a pot of flowers on the table -- purple scabious , and tall cow-parsley , gathered from the orchard , where no one had yet had time to cut the ragged hay beneath the trees . The scene was typical of a new England .