noon
You must make your shoe this morning or not at all . It is my custom at one o'clock to close the forge and go to visit my Great-Aunt . I will be work again on Monday , till when you must shift for yourself . '' The King could hardly believe his luck in having matters so well settled , and he spent the morning so diligently that by noon he had produced a shoe which , if not that of a master-craftsman , was at least adaptable to the purpose for which it had been fashioned . The Lad examined it and said reluctantly , `` It will do , '' and proceeded to show the King how to fasten it to Pepper 's hoof . `` Why , '' said the King , having the nag 's off forefoot in his hand , `` here 's a stone in it . Small wonder she limped . ''