twelve o’clock
But her sympathies were strongly with her mother ; as well as she could understand the broken story , her father seemed to have no just cause for his pitiless rage , though such an occasion would be likely enough to bring out his worst faults . ` Is he in the study ? ' she asked . ` No , he went out at twelve o'clock , and he 's never been back since . I feel as if I must do something ; I ca n't bear with it , Marian . He tells me I 'm the curse of his life -- yes , he said that . I ought n't to tell you , I know I ought n't ; but it 's more than I can bear .