noon
`` Well , sir , '' said I , after I had thought the matter out in silence , `` I 'll stay awhile . It 's more just I should be helped by my own blood than strangers ; and if we do n't agree , I 'll do my best it shall be through no fault of mine . '' For a day that was begun so ill , the day passed fairly well . We had the porridge cold again at noon , and hot porridge at night ; porridge and small beer was my uncle 's diet . He spoke but little , and that in the same way as before , shooting a question at me after a long silence ; and when I sought to lead him to talk about my future , slipped out of it again . In a room next door to the kitchen , where he suffered me to go , I found a great number of books , both Latin and English , in which I took great pleasure all the afternoon . Indeed , the time passed so lightly in this good company , that I began to be almost reconciled to my residence at Shaws ; and nothing but the sight of my uncle , and his eyes playing hide and seek with mine , revived the force of my distrust .