eight o'clock
`` And when it 's eight o'clock it 's twelve , '' murmured Grace . `` Do you have to do subtraction and addition every time the clock strikes ? '' `` No , you see , eight bells is the highest number . It is eight bells at eight o'clock , at four o'clock and at twelve -- either at night , or in the daytime . '' `` Oh , I 'm sure I 'll never learn that , '' sighed Amy . `` It is very simple , '' explained Betty , `` Now it is eight bells -- twelve o'clock noon . At half-past twelve it will be one bell .