midday
I 'll go up to the homestead with you . '' He had an interview with his housekeeper , who protested in broken English that harvest was a singularly inconvenient time to entertain strangers , but eventually gave away . The extra hands lately hired could be put up in the barn , and there were two rooms that could be spared . Prescott showed his visitors in and afterward watched with some amusement their surprise when they sat down to the midday meal with the lightly clad toilers from the field . During the afternoon and until late in the evening , he worked hard among the grain , but when the light was failing and he leaned on a wire fence , hot and tired after the long day of effort , Jernyngham came toward him . `` We have had very little talk so far , '' he said . `` My daughter , however , desires me to convey her thanks to you .