twelve o'clock
And thus it happened that Mr. Tom stayed at home with the house party while the close carriage , containing his wife and that dear girl , Olive Asher , rolled swiftly southward over the smooth turnpike road . _ CHAPTER XXVI _ _ A Stop at the Toll-gate . _ The four lovers at Broadstone walked , and wandered , and waited , after breakfast that morning , but only one of them knew definitely what he was waiting for , and that was Mr. Locker . He was waiting for half-past twelve o'clock , when he would join Miss Asher , if she gave him an opportunity ; and he was sure she would give him one , for she was always to be trusted . He intended this interview to be decisive . It would not do for him to wait any longer ; yes or no must be her word . She had been walking down by the river with the best clothes on the premises , and he now feared the owner of those clothes more than anybody else .