midday
He could not find it in his heart to blame her , but he wished that it had not happened . As these thoughts filled his mind he became so absorbed that the children 's good-by failed to reach his ear . That day Hank had brought him his luncheon -- two ears of hot corn in a tin bucket , four doughnuts and an apple -- the corn in the bottom of the bucket and the doughnuts and apple on top . He could have walked home for his midday meal , for he was within sound of Samanthy 's dinner-horn , but he liked it better this way . Leaving his easel standing in the road , he had waved his hand in good-by to Hank , picked up the bucket and had crept under the shadow of the bridge to eat his luncheon . He had finished the corn , thrown the cobs to the fish , and was beginning on the doughnuts , when a step on the planking above him caused him to look up . A girl in a tam-o ' - shanter cap was leaning over the rail .