midday
Dame Sarah rejoiced greatly at these words , for nothing would have pleased her better than to have seen her son relieve her of the cares of the business ; and no sooner had Valentine declared his intention of approving himself a master in his craft than she handed over to him the keys of the chamber in which were preserved the tools and weapons of his father , the butcher 's ax , the knives , muskets , and swords , which no man 's hand had been allowed to touch since his death . It is not surprising , therefore , if all these implements were somewhat rust-eaten , and it was only natural that Valentine should spend the whole of the forenoon in furbishing them up with polishing powder , tow , and chalk , till they shone as bright as mirrors . He was evidently determined that his father 's tools should gleam quite splendidly when he wrought his promised masterpiece . At midday Dame Sarah served up all Valentine 's favorite dishes , and after she had feasted her little son right royally , she told him that she had given due notice to the guild-master that her boy was about to qualify himself for his profession , and also that she had already paid for the license . All ready in the stall stood the fat ox whereon he was to display his dexterity on this occasion . In the cellar a cask of wine had been broached , and on the counter she had deposited four or five gold pieces , as it was quite possible that the ` prentice hand of the young master might have lost its cunning , so that he would not be able to fell the ox at a single blow , in which case he would have to pay to the butcher 's guild a gold piece for every extra blow till the ox fell . `` Alas , dear mother , '' cried Valentine , `` my guild-master is not where you seek him .