midday
Marie 's fate lay no longer like a heavy burden upon Pelle ; time had taken the bitterness out of it . He could recall without self-reproach his life with her and her two brothers in the `` Ark , '' and often wondered what had become of the latter . No one could give him any information about them . One day , during the midday rest , he went on his bicycle out to Morten with a message from Ellen . In Morten 's sitting-room , a hunched-up figure was sitting with its back to the window , staring down at the floor . His clothes hung loosely upon him , and his thin hair was colorless . He slowly raised a wasted face as he looked toward the door .