noon
Or , if of the other sex , would blush a little and venture the observation that it was a lovely morning , and was n't the sermon splendid . These Sabbath introductions led to week-day , or rather week-evening , meetings . The principal excitement in South Harniss was `` going for the mail . '' At noon and after supper fully one-half of the village population journeyed to the post office . Albert 's labors for Z. Snow and Co. prevented his attending the noon gatherings -- his grandfather usually got the morning mail -- but he early formed the habit of sauntering `` down street '' in the evening if the weather was not too cold or disagreeable . There he was certain to find groups of South Harniss youth of both sexes , talking , giggling , skylarking and flirting . Sometimes he joined one or the other of these groups ; quite as often he did not , but kept aloof and by himself , for it may as well be acknowledged now , if it is not already plain , that the son of Miguel Carlos Speranza had inherited a share of his father 's temperament and self-esteem .