twelve o'clock
Opening it softly , she stepped within the chamber . On the bed , where she had evidently thrown herself , lay Mrs. Marion ; and , on approaching and bending over her , Edith discovered that she was sleeping . On perceiving this , she retired as noiselessly as she had entered . Ten , eleven , twelve o'clock came ; and yet Mr. Marion had not returned . An hour later than this , Edith and her sister lay awake , but up to that time he was still away . On the next morning , when the bell rang for breakfast , and the family assembled at the table , the places of Mr. and Mrs. Marion were vacant . From their nurse it was ascertained that Mr. Marion had not come home since he went out on the evening before , and that his wife had not yet arisen .