midday
If he took down the saw and the ax from their hooks to inspect them , he put them back again where he had found them . When he examined the letters , trying perhaps to read the addresses , he did not let them go carelessly , leaving them to swing back and forth , but held the string so that it hung motionless . I had no reason to complain about him . He had his midday meal with me , and when he had eaten , he said : `` Do you mind if I cut myself some pine twigs to sit on ? '' He went out to cut off some soft pine , and we had to move Madame 's straw to make room for the man inside the hut . Then we lay on our twigs , burning resin and talking . He was still there in the afternoon , still lying down as though to postpone the time of his leaving .