midday
On Sundays they gave the children to one of the neighbors , went into the city , and stood for an hour outside some concert-hall , freezing and listening to the music . Then they went home again and sat vegetating in the firelight , without lighting the lamp . One Sunday things looked bad . `` The coals will hold out only till midday , '' said Ellen ; `` we shall have to go out . And there 's no more food either . But perhaps we can go to the old folks ; they 'll put up with us till evening . '' As they were about to start , Ellen 's brother Otto arrived , with his wife and two children , to call on them .