twelve o'clock
Evidently she had turned to her for help . Miserably unable as she felt herself to give it , still it was a comfort to feel that she was the one selected from the household for companionship . Ester knew that Mrs. Ried had been with her daughter for a few moments , and that Ralph had rushed in and out again , too overcome to stay , but Ester had asked no questions , and received no information concerning her . She pictured her lying on the bed , with disordered hair and swollen eyes , given over to the abandonment of grief , or else the image of stony despair ; and it was with a very trembling hand that at last she softly turned the knob and let herself into the morning room , which she and Abbie had enjoyed together ; and just as she pushed open the door , a neighboring clock counted out twelve strokes , and it was at twelve o'clock that Abbie was to become a wife ! Midway in the room Ester paused , and , as her eyes rested on Abbie , a look of bewildering astonishment gathered on her face . In the little easy chair by the open window , one hand keeping the place in the partly closed book , sat the young creature , whose life had so suddenly darkened around her . The morning robe of soft pure white was perfect in its neatness and simplicity , the brown curls clustered around her brow with their wonted grace and beauty , and while under her eyes indeed there were heavy rings of black , yet the eyes themselves were large and full and tender .