noon
They stopped for a moment under the window for a lingering glance upward while Paolo called their attention to the dry-goods box he had placed on end for their special convenience . `` By standing on this , '' he explained , `` you can get on a level with the nest without being dependent on me . '' All the morning the children hung around the shed , delighted when there was an occasional sound from the nest above , and from time to time they clambered up to whisper soft nothings to the sharp ears of Baby Pigeon . At noon , when eating their luncheon , they plied the old caretaker with questions some of which , it must be confessed , taxed all his ingenuity to answer satisfactorily . `` How long will it be before I can begin to train him ? '' interrupted Andrea , on fire with his desire at once to realize his ambition . Paolo laughed .