twelve o'clock
`` An ' who 's a-comin ' to ` old me on ? '' Bindle stood in the yard of Messrs. Empsom & Daley , cartage contractors , regarding a pair of burly cart-horses , ready-harnessed , with the traces thrown over their backs . The foreman explained in the idiom adopted by foreman that `` orders is orders . '' `` You can ride on top , run beside , or ` ang on be'ind ; but you got to be at Merton at twelve o'clock , '' he said . `` We jest ` ad a telephone message that a van 's stranded this side o ' Merton , ` orses broken down , an ' you an ' Tippitt ` ave got to take these ` ere and deliver the goods . Then take the van where you 're told , an ' bring back them ruddy ` orses ` ere , an ' do n't you forget it . '' Bindle scratched his head through the blue and white cricket cap he habitually wore .