noon
He found Beulah in her room , ostensibly reading . `` Why are the cows not milked ? '' he demanded . `` I thought I made it clear to you at noon that they would n't be milked by me , '' she answered , `` and there did n't seem to be anybody else hankering for the job . '' `` Beulah , '' he said , trying to speak calmly , `` do n't you think this nonsense has gone far enough ? '' `` Too far , '' she agreed . `` But you started it -- let 's see you stop it . ''