about twelve o'clock
She was certainly very precocious , with a most inquiring turn of mind , and Mrs. Crawford felt herself greatly interested in her as she watched her active movements and listened to the musical prattle she could not understand . She had examined the carpet-bag , in which were found the articles necessary for an ocean voyage , and little else . Most of these were soiled from use , but there was among them a little clean , white apron , and this Mrs. Crawford put upon the child , after having washed her face and hands and brushed her wavy hair , which had a trick of coiling itself into soft , fluffy curls all over her head . The bread and milk had been given her about twelve o'clock , and the laugh she gave when she saw it showed her appreciation of it quite as much as the eagerness with which she ate it . Her appetite appeased , however , she began to play with it and throw the milk over the table and into Mrs. Crawford 's face , just as Harold came in , full of what he had seen at the park , and anxious to see his baby , as he called her . Taking her on his lap and kissing her rosy cheeks , he began to narrate to his grandmother all that had been done , and told her that Mr. St. Claire had given it as his opinion that the woman was French . ` And if so , ' he continued , ` baby must be French , too , though she does not look a bit like her mother , who is very dark and not -- well , not at all like you or Mrs. St. Claire . '