midday
before
The rain ceased with the passing of the electrical storm , but the late hours of the night were thick and the fires continued to burn . It seemed as if morning would never come . With the first light Buddy mounted one of his horses , and , regardless of admonitions , set out . In miles he had no great distance to go ; nevertheless , it was midday before he came in sight of his father 's unpainted farmhouse , and when he dismounted at the front porch he fell rather than walked through the door . He broke down and blubbered weakly when he saw Calvin Gray up and around and apparently well . He collapsed into a chair and huddled there in a wet heap , the while he sobbed and laughed hysterically . He was considerably ashamed of his show of feeling .