midday
Now the rye was all in , now the last stack disappeared from the field , the shadows grew longer every day . But one evening the darkness surprised him before his bedtime , and this made him serious . He no longer hastened on the time , but tried to hold it back by many small sun-signs . One day the men 's midday rest was taken off . They harnessed the horses again as soon as they had eaten their dinner , and the chaff-cutting was put off until the evening . The horse-way lay on the outer side of the stable , and none of the men cared to tramp round out there in the dark , driving for the chaff-cutter , so Pelle had to do it . Lasse protested and threatened to go to the farmer , but it was of no use ; every evening Pelle had to be out there for a couple of hours .