midday
The Romish priest must have been vastly surprised at his intrusion , yet had been at the greatest pains to act as if it were quite the usual thing to have Methodist ministers assist at Extreme Unction . And the young woman -- how gracefully , with what delicacy , had she comprehended his position and robbed it of all its possible embarrassments ! It occurred to him that they must have passed , there in front of her home , the very tree from which the luckless wheelwright had fallen some hours before ; and the fact that she had forborne to point it out to him took form in his mind as an added proof of her refinement of nature . The midday dinner was a little more than ready when Theron reached home , and let himself in by the front door . On Mondays , owing to the moisture and `` clutter '' of the weekly washing in the kitchen , the table was laid in the sitting-room , and as he entered from the hall the partner of his joys bustled in by the other door , bearing the steaming platter of corned beef , dumplings , cabbages , and carrots , with arms bared to the elbows , and a red face . It gave him great comfort , however , to note that there were no signs of the morning 's displeasure remaining on this face ; and he immediately remembered again those interrupted projects of his about the piano and the hired girl . `` Well !