noon on Monday
Now , when she spoke , it was usually at dinner time ; she always looked , or Franklin imagined that she looked , suspiciously at him . Other people looked more maliciously ; but , as he felt himself perfectly innocent , he went on eating his dinner in silence . But at length it was time to explain . One Sunday there appeared a handsome sirloin of beef , which before noon on Monday had shrunk almost to the bare bone , and presented such a deplorable spectacle to the opening eyes of Mrs. Pomfret that her long smothered indignation burst forth , and she boldly declared she was now certain there had been foul play , and she would have the beef found , or she would know why . She spoke , but no beef appeared , till Franklin , with a look of sudden recollection , cried , `` Did not I see something like a piece of beef in a basket in the dairy ? -- I think -- '' The cook , as if somebody had smote her a deadly blow , grew pale ; but , suddenly recovering the use of her speech , turned upon Franklin , and , with a voice of thunder , gave him the lie direct ; and forthwith , taking Mrs. Pomfret by the ruffle , led the way to the dairy , declaring she could defy the world -- `` that so she could , and would . '' `` There , ma'am , '' said she kicking an empty basket which lay on the floor -- `` there 's malice for you .