midday
The expression had belonged to the youthful Nicholas . Jessop borrowed it only at moments of the severest stress . It was borrowed now . Antony did not in the least understand Jessop 's request to follow him to the library , when he returned from his midday meal . He imagined that there was some job which required doing , and that Jessop was regarding him in the light of a handy man . Anyhow Antony followed him good-humouredly enough , and not without a certain degree of curiosity . The big , silent house had always exercised an odd fascination over him , and he had more than once had a strong desire to set foot within its walls .