noon
Often there were traces of clay on the stairs . For working in clay he demanded of his mother a smock , and she made a smock , on the model of a genuine smock which she obtained from a country-woman who sold eggs and butter in the Covered Market . Into the shoulders of the smock she put a week 's fancy-stitching , taking the pattern from an old book of embroidery . One day when he had seen her stitching morn , noon , and afternoon , at the smock , he said , as she rocked idly after supper : `` I suppose you have n't forgotten all about the smock I asked you for , have you , mater ? '' She knew that he was teasing her ; but , while perfectly realizing how foolish she was , she nearly always acted as though his teasing was serious ; she picked up the smock again from the sofa . When the smock was finished he examined it intently ; then exclaimed with an air of surprise : `` By Jove ! That 's beautiful !