noon
By the way , did you make that up all by yourself ? '' The old man 's face assumed an injured look , expressive more of sorrow than of anger , and shaking his head he replied : -- `` No , suh , I heared dat tale befo ' you er Mis ' Annie dere wuz bawn , suh . My mammy tol ' me dat tale w ` en I wa 'n' t mo ' d' n knee-high ter a hopper-grass . '' I drove to town next morning , on some business , and did not return until noon ; and after dinner I had to visit a neighbor , and did not get back until supper-time . I was smoking a cigar on the back piazza in the early evening , when I saw a familiar figure carrying a bucket of water to the barn . I called my wife . `` My dear , '' I said severely , `` what is that rascal doing here ?