noon
No one had ever been able to pity Jeanie King ; she had been as proud as the pale lady who came with the first `` Wild King '' from Virginia . There was that about the Kings ; it had to be granted that their women always stuck ; they must have had compensating traits and graces . No King wife ever gave up or deserted save by death , and no King wife ever wept on a neighbor 's shoulder . And now they had all wandered back to Virginia or up to Alaska or down to Mexico , and there was not an uncle or cousin of his tribe left in Los Angeles for Jimsy King ; only his bad , beloved father , coming home at noon in rumpled evening dress , but wearing it better and more handily , for all that , than any other man on the block . It was agreed that there was no chance for Jimsy to escape the heritage of his blood . People were kind about it , but very firm . `` If his mother had lived he might have had a chance , the poor boy , '' Mrs. Lorimer would sigh , `` but with that father , and that home life , and that example -- '' `` My dear , '' said Stephen Lorimer , `` ca n't you see what you are doing ?