midday
She held the Tore Peak resort in the palm of her hand . Solem was not discharged ; but he held himself in check and became a little more civil . He seemed to suffer as much as ever . Once at midday , as he was standing in the woodshed , I saw him make a scratch with the ax across the nail of his thumb . `` What on earth are you doing ? '' I asked . `` Oh , I 'm just marking myself , '' he replied , laughing gloomily .