one o'clock
Fortunately , the experiences of the day had taken away the appetite . `` I have been watching that old tree , '' said Hester . `` When the clock struck twelve , the water had just reached the notch at the branches . It is one o'clock now and it has not gone higher . '' The waters were at a standstill . The worst was over . At three o'clock , Hester cried out with delight .