noon
As the light began to fail , Esther collected her younger children at her side , and placing herself on a projecting point of her insulated fortress , she sat patiently awaiting the return of the hunters . Ellen Wade was at no great distance , seeming to keep a little aloof from the anxious circle , as if willing to mark the distinction which existed in their characters . `` Your uncle is , and always will be , a dull calculator , Nell , '' observed the mother , after a long pause in a conversation that had turned on the labours of the day ; `` a lazy hand at figures and foreknowledge is that said Ishmael Bush ! Here he sat lolloping about the rock from light till noon , doing nothing but scheme -- scheme -- scheme -- with seven as noble boys at his elbows as woman ever gave to man ; and what 's the upshot ? why , night is setting in , and his needful work not yet ended . '' `` It is not prudent , certainly , aunt , '' Ellen replied , with a vacancy in her air , that proved how little she knew what she was saying ; `` and it is setting a very bad example to his sons . '' `` Hoity , toity , girl !