You say it is only twelve o'clock. Suppose it isn't any later; can't you ever think it is afternoon when it is only twelve o'clock?

Mother, I do want to leave off my lessons now. I have been at my book all the morning.

If twelve o'clock can come in the night, why can't the night come when it is twelve o'clock?

I can just shut my eyes and think that the shadows are growing darker under the madar tree, and the water in the pond looks shiny black.

I can easily imagine now that the sun has reached the edge of that rice-field, and the old fisher-woman is gathering herbs for her supper by the side of the pond.