TWELVE O'CLOCK

    MOTHER, I do want to leave off my lessons now. I have been at my book all the morning.

    You say it is only twelve o'clock. Suppose it isn't any later； can't you ever think it is afternoon when it is only twelve o'clock？

    I can easily imagine now that the sun has reached the edge of that rice-field, and the old fisher-woman is gathering¹ herbs for her supper by the side of the pond.

    I can just shut my eyes and think that the shadows are growing darker under the madar tree, and the water in the pond looks shiny black.

    If twelve o'clock can come in the night, why can't the night come when it is twelve o'clock？