twelve o'clock
They have steam heat from the factory -- no stoves -- no coal -- no ashes to bother with . There 's electric light , refrigerator , bathroom , hot and cold water -- everything I could think of to save labour and make housework easy . `` Now , Mrs. Strauss , suppose you and your husband decide to try this new arrangement . You would both come here and work till twelve o'clock , and the afternoons you would have to yourselves . `` In the afternoons you could go shopping , or fishing , or walking , or boating , or skating , or visiting , or you could take up a course of study , or read a good book , or go to the theatre , or take a nap , or work in your garden -- anything you liked ... `` In short , after twelve o'clock , the whole day would be your own -- for your own development , your own pleasure , your own ideas -- anything you wanted to use it for . Do you understand it , Mrs. Strauss ? '' `` Indeed I do .