noon
When he did there was in his speech a resentful inflection like that of a man who smarts under some injury , some injustice , some deep hurt which he may not divulge but which nags him to the limits of his endurance . Hollister was Mills ' sole company after the other two men left . They would work within sight of each other all day . They ate together at noon . Now and then he asked Mills down to supper out of pity for the man 's complete isolation . Some chord in Hollister vibrated in sympathy with this youngster who kept his teeth so resolutely clenched on whatever hurt him . And while Hollister watched Mills and wondered how long that effort at repression would last , he became conscious that Myra was watching _ him _ , puzzling over him ; that something about him attracted and repulsed her in equal proportions .