ten
minutes after twelve
No doctor yet `` I would not leave you if it were not absolute necessity , '' he had said . `` Life or death in another family , with more for human knowledge to do than there is here , takes me away ; but I will be back as soon after twelve as possible . '' Would he _ never _ come ? It was ten minutes after twelve now , still no change -- or , was there ? Could he catch the breathing as distinctly now ? Was the sleep heavier ? Ought he to call the family ?