noon
When the morning meal had come to an end Gladys was eager Seth should join her and Snip on an excursion through the grove where squirrels were said to be `` thick as peas , '' and under almost any other circumstances the guest would have been delighted to accept the invitation ; but now he insisted that there was very much work to be done before nightfall , which would force him to remain near the house . `` We 've only to plant the garden , '' Aunt Hannah interrupted , `` an ' then there 's no reason why you should n't enjoy a stroll among the trees . '' Seth remained silent , but determined to do all in his power to atone for what seemed to him very nearly a crime , and Gladys decided that she must also take part in the sowing of the seeds . Until noon the three , with Snip as a most interested spectator , worked industriously , and then , as Aunt Hannah said , `` there was nothing to be done save wait patiently until the sun and the rain had performed their portion of the task . '' Seth did not join Gladys and Snip in their afternoon romp , but continued at his self-imposed tasks until night had come , doing quite as much work with his mind as his hands . Twenty times over he resolved to tell the little woman exactly why he was forced to run away from New York , and as often decided he could not confess himself such a criminal as it seemed certain , because of the advertisement , he really was . `` I could n't stand it to have her look at me after she knew everything , '' he repeated again and again .