noon
Langrigg meant much to Jim and she thought would presently mean more . She vaguely understood his feelings and tried to sympathize , although the effort cost her something . In the meantime , Jim went to see his tenants . He dined with one at noon in an old farm kitchen and afterwards occupied himself by examining horses , buildings , and agricultural machines . On the whole , he puzzled the small farmers , to whom a landlord of his type was new , although they liked his frankness and answered his direct questions , since it was obvious that this was a man who knew how things were done . Some of the tenants who had known his grandfather talked about Jim afterwards and agreed that he had not much in common with the country gentleman ; he was like Bernard Dearham , who opened the famous iron mines . When they returned in the afternoon across the small turnip and stubble fields , Jim said to Jake , `` I 've seen enough of the plow land .