midday
He was light-headed with the sun . Down on the pond , ducks and geese stood upon their heads in the water , flourishing their red legs in the air . And all at once the whole flock would have an attack of giddy delight in the sunshine , and splash screaming from bank to bank , the last part of the way sliding along the top of the water with a comical wagging of the tail . Pelle had promised himself much from this couple of hours that were to be entirely his own , as his father had given him a holiday until the time came for the midday work . But now he stood in bewilderment , overwhelmed by the wealth of possibilities . Would it be the best fun to sail upon the pond on two tail-boards laid one across the other ? There was a manure-cart lying there now to be washed .