An hour before noon
It was Monday , and Idy was putting the week 's washing through the wringer with a loud vocal accompaniment of gospel hymn . Eben had worked steadily since sunrise . The vines were young , and the ground was not heavy , but the day was warm , and he wielded the mattock rapidly , stooping now and then to jerk out a refractory root with his hands . An hour before noon his daughter saw him coming through the apricot orchard , walking wearily , with his soiled handkerchief pressed to his lips . The girl 's voice lost its song abruptly , and then broke out again in a low , faltering wail . She bounded across the warm plowed ground to his side . `` Pappy !