noons
Beyond what was then thought the venial error of too devout libations to Bacchus , Charley Vernon seemed reformed . Ardworth had joined a regiment which had departed for the field of action . Mainwaring was still with his father , and had not yet announced to Sir Miles any wish or project for the future . Olivier Dalibard , as before , passed his mornings alone in his chamber , -- his noons and his evenings with Sir Miles . He avoided all private conferences with Lucretia . She did not provoke them . Young Gabriel amused himself in copying Sir Miles 's pictures , sketching from Nature , scribbling in his room prose or verse , no matter which -LRB- he never showed his lucubrations -RRB- , pinching the dogs when he could catch them alone , shooting the cats , if they appeared in the plantation , on pretence of love for the young pheasants , sauntering into the cottages , where he was a favourite because of his good looks , but where he always contrived to leave the trace of his visits in disorder and mischief , upsetting the tea-kettle and scalding the children , or , what he loved dearly , setting two gossips by the ears .