one o'clock
Now it was such a difficult task -- and yet he must do it . He glanced at the timepiece : when the hour-hand reached one he would tell him ; he would think now what he had better say -- how he should begin . How fast that hour seemed to fly ! It was one o'clock , and he had nothing ready to say ; he dare not begin ; he would wait until two , perhaps his father would be awake then . Two o'clock came ; his father still slept , looking so calm and peaceful -- how could he disturb him to listen to his sad tale of sin and shame ? Soon after his father awoke ; he started up and looked anxiously round . Charlie and his mother felt instinctively that it was death .