noon
`` I 'm going to look around a little . I 'll drop in again in about an hour and see how you 're getting on . '' With that Geary went away . It was Saturday afternoon , and as the law office closed at noon that day , Geary very often spent the time until evening looking about his property . He left Vandover and went slowly down the street , noting each particular house with immense satisfaction , even entering some of them , talking with the womenfolk , all the men being at the factory . Vandover took off his coat , his old and greasy cutaway , and began work . He drew a pail of water from the garden faucet in a neighbour 's yard , and commenced washing the windows .