noon before
`` Then the next day came , and the poor fellow 's relatives ran up to see him , and he was in very great agony , and they called upon the monks to help him , and they dressed the terrible injury again , and the poor fellow was very feverish and bad in spite of all that was done . But at last he dropped off into a weary sleep , and the poor people went away thinking what a great thing it was to have so much knowledge of healing , while , as soon as they had gone the monk shook his head . `` Next day came , and the relatives and friends were delighted , for the pain was nearly all gone , and the injured man lay very still . '' ` He 'll soon get well now , ' they said ; and they went away full of hope and quite satisfied ; but the monk , after he had given the patient some refreshing drink , went out into his garden among his trees , and then after walking about in the sunny walk under the old stone wall , he stopped by the mossy seat by the sun-dial , and stood looking down at the gnomon , whose shadow marked the hours , and sighed deeply as he thought how many times the shadow would point to noon before his poor patient was dead . '' `` Why , I thought he was getting better , '' I said . `` Carry your ladder to the next tree , Grant , '' said the old gentleman , `` and you shall work while I prattle . '' I obeyed him , and this time I had a great apple-tree bough to operate upon with the thin saw .