midday
But there were some very encouraging rays right around them . Kit Connelly 's coffee-house was working to a charm . Jack began to think that drinking liquors was not so much a besetting sin , as a natural sequence of having nothing else to drink when you were cold or hot , or tired or hungry . The men fell into the habit of going to Kit 's for their midday lunch , and presently some of the women went over . The room was so bright and pleasant ; and , with Miss Rose there , they were on their best behavior . In the evening Mrs. Connelly brought her work , and sat by the desk . Some of the younger men , who had no homes ; as one may say , dropped in , and looked over the books .