two
o'clock
I remember what confidence he had in your devotion , and how he confided everything to you . '' `` He was like a brother to me , madam , '' Malcolm replied ; `` and glad indeed am I that I have been able to befriend his son and to bring him back to you a gentleman who will be an honour even to his father 's name and yours . '' `` And now let us sit down here , '' the countess said , taking a seat upon a bench . `` It gets light very early , and you must not stay after two o'clock , and there is so much for me to hear . '' For the next two hours Ronald sat holding his mother 's hand , while he told her the story of his life . `` And now , mother , '' he said , when he had concluded , `` we have but an hour left , for it has just struck one , and we have not said a word yet about the principal thing of all . How are we to obtain your freedom ?