twelve o'clock
Miss Janetta Upround , up to this time of her life , had laughed at all the wanton tricks of Cupid ; and whenever the married women told her that her time would be safe to come , and then she might understand their behavior , they had always been ordered to go home and do their washing . And this made it harder for her to be mangled by the very tribulation she had laughed at . Short little sighs were her first symptom , and a quiet way of going up the stairs -- which used to be a noisy process with her -- and then a desire to know something of history , and a sudden turn of mind toward soup . Sir Duncan had a basin every day at twelve o'clock , and Janetta had orders to see him do it , by strict institution of Stirbacks . Those orders she carried out with such zeal that she even went so far as to blow upon the spoon ; and she did look nice while doing it . In a word -- as there is no time for many -- being stricken , she did her best to strike , as the manner of sweet women is . Sir Duncan Yordas received it well .