noon
Her uncle , who was now dead , and who was a poor but devout man , the organist of the neighboring church , had taught her to read her prayer book , and her education was perfected by her communing with nature . The bees taught her to work , the doves taught her purity , the happy sparrows to speak joyfully to her father , the quiet water taught her peace , the serenity of the sky taught her contemplation , the matin-bell of the distant church called her to devotion , and the universal good in all nature , which reflected the love of God , sank deep into her soul . Therefore the father and Kasya led a peaceful and happy life , surrounded by the silence and solitude of the woods . One noon , before Ascension Day , Stephan came home to his dinner . He had visited a large tract of the forest , so he arrived weary , having returned through the thickets of the swamp . Kasya placed the dinner on the table , and after they had finished and she had fed the dog and washed the dishes , she said : `` Papa . '' `` What is it ? ''