twelve o'clock
He had to take his whipping , -- a hard one it was ! -- and then he was sent down into the cellar to sift ashes , as the most unpleasant thing that could be devised for a fine afternoon . But the news spread , for all that . John was not the only boy in the village of Tidewater , and by twelve o'clock every man , woman and child was talking about the new arrival ; and by two o'clock , the dinner dishes being put away , and the time of the evening chores still some hours off , nearly every man , woman and child was hastening in the direction of the wharf . Of course the boys were going . It was vacation time , and what else should boys do but see all that was to be seen ? And of course it was the duty of the elders to see that the children came to no harm .