midday
Sometimes he would insist that the sun shone brighter than the day before ; then again that the clouds had a cooling effect . But if in the world outside Lafe found no comfort , he always spoke of to-morrow with a ring of hope in his voice . Hope for another day was all Lafe had save Peggy , and to him these two -- hope and the woman -- were Heaven 's choicest gifts . Now Peggy did n't realize all these things , because the world , with its trials and vicissitudes , gave her a different aspect of life , and she was not in even her ordinary good humor this day as she prepared the midday meal . Her mind was busy with thoughts of the new burden which the morning had brought . Generally Lafe consulted her about any problem that presented itself before him , but , that day , he had taken a young stranger into their home , and Mrs. Grandoken had used all kinds of arguments to persuade him to send the girl away . Peggy did n't want another mouth to feed .