midday
he said comfortingly . `` Never mind ! No one has ever yet got off without being punished , and Lasse 'll break that long limb of Satan 's head and make his brains spurt out of his nose ; you take my word for it ! '' Pelle 's face brightened at the prospect of this forcible redress , and he crept up into the loft to throw down the hay for the cattle 's midday meal . Lasse , who was not so fond of climbing , went down the long passage between the stalls distributing the hay . He was cogitating over something , and Pelle could hear him talking to himself all the time . When they had finished , Lasse went to the green chest and brought out a black silk handkerchief that had been Bengta 's Sunday best .