noon
Nevertheless , when the concert was over , not a word was said on the subject by any one , though I had quite expected to be taken at once to the magisterial chamber to hear some dreadful sentence passed on me ; and when , before retiring , anxious to propitiate my host , I began to express regret for having inflicted pain on them by attempting to sing , the venerable gentleman raised his hands deprecatingly , and begged me to say no more about it , for painful subjects were best forgotten . `` No doubt , '' he kindly added , `` when you were lying there buried among the hills , you swallowed a large amount of earth and gravel in your efforts to breathe , and have not yet freed your lungs from it . '' This was the most charitable view he could take of the matter , and I was thankful that no worse result followed . At length the joyful day arrived when I was to cease , in outward appearance at all events , to be an alien ; for returning at noon from the fields , on entering my cell I beheld my beautiful new garments -- two complete suits , besides underwear : one , the most soberly colored , intended only for working hours ; but the second , which was for the house , claimed my first attention . Trembling with eagerness , I flung off the old tweeds , the cracked boots , and other vestiges of a civilization which they had perhaps survived , and soon found that I had been measured with faultless accuracy ; for everything , down to the shoes , fitted to perfection . Green was the prevailing or ground tint -- a soft sap green ; the pattern on it , which was very beautiful , being a somewhat obscure red , inclining to purple . My delight culminated when I drew on the hose , which had , like those worn by the others , a curious design , evidently borrowed from the skin of some kind of snake .