eleven o'clock
`` Did you never hear the saying , ` There 's gold in the mouth of the early morn . ' '' Blasi made a wry face and began in an angry tone , `` There 's nothing very clever in that '' -- but just then he remembered that when he came out of the house he had intended to come over and say something quite different to Judith ; so he changed his tone quickly , and said , `` Can you lend me a franc or two ; I have just time to do a little business before eleven o'clock , and then I must be back to ring the noon bell ; I must try to help father , a little . '' `` No , no , Blasi , I have no francs for you , '' said Judith decidedly . `` It wants three hours yet of being eleven o'clock . Use those big arms of yours , and they 'll bring you francs enough . '' And so saying , she lifted her clothes-basket on her head , and walked away . Blasi stood looking after her , a moment , then he sauntered off , with both hands in his pockets , up the road towards , the shoemaker 's old house .