midday
She would have liked to confide in him -- some things : he gave her the impression of comprehending life ; of having , as his specialty , humanity itself ; he should , she reflected , have been a minister , and smiled at the thought : ministers , at any rate , ought to be like him , and then one might embrace Christianity -- the religion of her forefathers that Rolfe ridiculed . But there was about Insall nothing of religion as she had grown up to apprehend the term . Now that she had taken her courage in her hands and renewed her visits , they seemed to be the most natural proceedings in the world . On that second occasion , when she had opened the door and palpitatingly climbed to the loft , the second batch of children were finishing their midday meal , -- rather more joyously , she thought , than before , -- and Insall himself was stooping over a small boy whom he had taken away from the table . He did not notice her at once , and Janet watched them . The child had a cough , his extreme thinness was emphasized by the coat he wore , several sizes too large for him . `` You come along with me , Marcus , I guess I can fit you out , '' Insall was saying , when he looked up and saw Janet .