midday
My voice is hardly worth the money that has been squandered upon it , but such as it is I began to sing also . To my intense dismay I was soon singing alone , for the rest of the congregation respectfully stopped . Mr. Barnett looked at me most benevolently over his spectacles , but this was hardly enough to subdue my sudden stage fright . On the day before the nice little man called on us , soon after dinner , which here is a midday function . Before this particular feast I had apologized to Daddy for leaving him alone and going sailing for a few hours . `` That 's the worst of you women-folk , '' he rebuffed me . `` Just because a fellow happens to be fond of you , you must pretend that you are entirely indispensable .