noon
In the morning of the second day as she stood peering through the door crack at the child she saw his little body move in a deep sigh , and saw his black eyes open for a second and close as he smiled . Dr. Nesbit , who stood beside her , grasped her hand and led her away . `` I think the worst is over , Lida , '' he said , and held her hand as they walked down the hall . He sat with her in the waiting room , into which the earliest tide of visitors had not begun to flow , and promised her that if the child continued to rally from the shock , she might stand by his bed at noon . Then for the first time she wept . He stood by the window looking out at the great pillars of smoke that were smudging the dawn , at the smelter fumes that were staining the sky , at the hurrying crowd of men and women and children going into the mines , the mills , the shops , hurrying to work with the prod of fear ever in their backs -- fear of the disgrace of want , fear of the shame of beggary , fear to hear some loved one ask for food or warmth or shelter and to have it not . When the great motherly body had ceased its paroxysms , he went to Mrs. Bowman and touched her shoulder .