midday
I 'll speak about him to Ladell ; and when he begins to go down-hill , I 'll lend a helping hand , '' the doctor said , making one of those resolutions that testify surely to the spiritual part of us , and do honour to the hearts that record them , even when , as now , they are not kept . The doctor fully meant to keep his when he made it , but he forgot . He forgot it , until one sunshiny morning in the spring of the next year , when , as he sat at his solitary lunch , there was brought to him a letter . It was in a careful and childish hand , and he read it almost at a glance as he ate the biscuit and drank the glass of Burgundy which he allowed himself for his midday meal . `` DEAR SIR , '' the letter ran -- `` Peter was coming to tell you he had been promoted again . A junior was wanted to help with some work through the Easter holidays . Peter offered and was accepted .