noon in October
Then he told her that her papa and mamma had gone to look for his papa and mamma -- `` somewhere up in the dome , '' he said . When they wanted to take Mary to see what was left of her mother , the boy contrived to prevent them . From morning till night he never lost sight of the child . One cold noon in October , when the clouds were miles deep in front of the sun , when the rain was falling thick on the yellow leaves , and all the paths were miry , the two children sat by the kitchen fire . Sarah was cooking their mid-day meal , which had come from her own pocket . She was the only servant either of them had known in the house , and she would not leave it until some one should take charge of them . The neighbours , dreading infection , did not come near them .