a quarter to twelve
` I may as well stay and help you , ' said Dare . ` I have nothing to do till twelve o'clock ; and not much then . ' So there he remained . At a quarter to twelve children and idlers began to gather against the railings of Havill 's house . A few minutes past twelve the noise of an arriving host was heard at the entrance to the town . Thereupon Dare and Havill went to the window . The X and Y Batteries of the Z Brigade , Royal Horse Artillery , were entering Markton , each headed by the major with his bugler behind him .