twelve o'clock
Henry added , in as low a voice , and without looking at me , `` Notre Dame de bon secours . '' I understood him , and acknowledged to myself the truth of his prediction , that there was one share in my soul which nothing could ever rob him of , and that was that undefinable communion of thought and feeling , which an extraordinary fatality of circumstances , and a natural congeniality of mind , had created between us . The next day there was nothing but bustle and excitement in the house , and in the neighbourhood . The polling was to begin at twelve o'clock that morning ; and , at an early hour , we all drove to the town of -- , to take up our quarters for the day in the drawing-room of the inn which belonged to my uncle , and the landlord of which was one of Edward 's staunch supporters . The loud cries of `` Middleton for ever ! '' the enthusiastic cheering as we drove along ; the occasional groans and hisses , which were too feeble to depress our spirits ; the flags ; the music ; the bustle ; Edward 's heightened colour and animated countenance ; the interest felt and expressed by all those about us ; the eagerness of contest ; the anxiety for success ; the anticipated triumph over the enemy -- all this together worked me up into such a state of excitement , that I could hardly sit still in the carriage , or at the window , or forbear to shout with the shouting mob . Henry seemed as much interested as any of us ; he was continually going backwards and forwards from the poll to the inn : he won even my uncle 's heart , by the look of dismay with which he brought , at one moment , the news that our antagonists were unexpectedly getting ahead of us , and the burst of joy with which , towards one o'clock on the second day , he dashed into the room with the account of Edward 's triumphant return by a considerable majority .