Twelve o'clock
Lucy came with her young eyes , her woman 's patience , and her own complaisance . A great ditch yawned between a crocheteer and a rotten branch he coveted . Our Quinta Curtia flung herself , her eyesight , and her time into that ditch . Twelve o'clock came , and found them still wallowing in modern antiquity . `` Bless me ! '' cried Mr. Fountain when John brought up the bed-candles , `` how time flies when one is really employed . '' `` Yes , indeed , uncle ; '' and by a gymnastic of courtesy she first crushed and then so molded a yawn that it glided into society a smile .