noon
As for the watch , which was only a silver one , but of the best make , George protested for a time , but when he had yielded , my father could see that he was overjoyed at getting it ; for watches , though now permitted , were expensive and not in common use . Having thus bribed him , my father broached the possibility of his meeting him at the statues on that day twelvemonth , but of course saying nothing about why he was so anxious that he should come . `` I will come , '' said my father , `` not a yard farther than the statues , and if I can not come I will send your brother . And I will come at noon ; but it is possible that the river down below may be in fresh , and I may not be able to hit off the day , though I will move heaven and earth to do so . Therefore if I do not meet you on the day appointed , do your best to come also at noon on the following day . I know how inconvenient this will be for you , and will come true to the day if it is possible . '' To my father 's surprise , George did not raise so many difficulties as he had expected .