noon
His chief sensation was the hunger which comes of early rising and of many hours spent in the open , and beyond that he was hoping that the Chinaman cook had made some meat-pie , like he had the week before . His eyes , searching unobtrusively the long table bearing the unmistakable signs of many other hungry men gone before -- for Andy was late -- failed to warn him . He pulled out his chair and sat down , still looking for meat-pie . `` Good after _ noon ! _ '' cried an eager , feminine voice just across the table . Andy started guiltily . He had been dimly aware that some one was sitting there , but , being occupied with other things , had not given a thought to the sitter , or a glance .