twelve o'clock
Every bit of that furniture had a history . Part of it belonged to the Reeds , part to the Phippses , and part to the Simpsons . It was full of the stories of many lives ; but , as Grannie said to herself , `` I 'll have heaps of time by and by to fret about the eight-day clock , and the little oak bureau under the window , and the plates , and cups , and dishes , and tables ; I need not waste precious minutes over 'em now . '' So the auctioneer , who somehow could not cheat those blue eyes , offered a fair price for the little `` bits o ' duds , '' and by twelve o'clock he sent round a cart and a couple of men to carry them away . The flat was quite bare and empty before Grannie finally locked the hall door and took the key down to Mrs. Murray . Mrs. Murray was very fond of Grannie , and was extremely inclined to be inquisitive ; but if ever Mrs. Reed had been on her full dignity it was this morning . She spoke about the good luck of the children in having found such comfortable homes , said that household work was getting a little too much for her , and that now she was going away on a visit .