noon
Strange to say , it was upon the smaller families that the strain fell the worst in Farley , and upon men and women who had nobody to look to but themselves . Where a man had a large household of children and several of these were old enough to be at work , and to put aside their wages or pay for their board ; where such a man was of a thrifty and saving turn and a ruler of his household like old James Dow in the cloth-hall , he might feel sure of a comfortable hoard and be fearless of a rainy day . But with a young man who worked single-handed for his wife and a little flock , or one who had an invalid to work for , that heaviest of burdens to the poor , the door seemed to be shut and barred against prosperity , and life became a test of one 's power of endurance . The agent went home late that noon from the counting-room . The street was nearly empty , but he had no friendly look or word for anyone whom he passed . Those who knew him well only pitied him , but it seemed to the tired man as if every eye must look at him with reproach . The long mill buildings of gray stone with their rows of deep-set windows wore a repellent look of strength and solidity .