half past twelve
`` Of course there 's Lila ; if it is best for her -- why that 's the thing to do -- I presume . '' `` But father , '' broke in the daughter , `` Tom and I can -- '' But he entreated , `` Wo n't you let me talk with Tom ? In half an hour -- I 'll go . You and Lila slip over to mother 's for half an hour -- come back at half past twelve . I 'll tell him where you are . '' The mother and child had disappeared around the corner of the house when the click of Van Dorn 's bicycle on the curbing told the Doctor that the young man was upon the walk . The package from the capital still lay beside the porch column .