noon
It beats the band how things will turn out rotten just when the luck seems to be all right . '' But William did n't spend much time in regrets . The day was blazing hot , the civic tug for the free baths off the Island sand bar was about to leave the wharf , and he constituted himself a part of the noisy human freight with which it was laden . He had a glorious swim , and at noon time surprised the Turnpike household by arriving for luncheon , having during his business career eaten that meal -- packed by his mother 's hands -- in the office . Quite frankly , and with the mimicry which was the pride of his father and a constant source of astonishment to his mother , he related the whole story . His mother grieved despite her laughter : his father laughed and sorrowed not . `` It 'll come out right in the end , '' he said philosophically , `` and if it do n't , you 'll soon get another job . ''