twelve o'clock
`` You 're not obliged to read all the paragraphs , you know , '' said Waterford , as Horace 's hand slackened amid these musings . `` It 's a close shave to get done as it is , and he 's marked a frightful lot this morning . '' He was right . All the cuttings had to be taken out and pasted on sheets before twelve o'clock , and it took the three of them , hard at work with scissors and paste , to get the task accomplished . They talked very little , and joked still less ; but when it was all done , like three honest men , they felt pleased with themselves , and decidedly amiable towards one another . `` Now Booms is going out for the grub , are n't you , Booms ? He 'll get some for you too , young ` un , if you like . ''