twelve o'clock
Nell had risen from the grass -- she stood tall and thin and pale by Antonia 's side . When she uttered the last words , she pressed her hand against her heart . `` Good-bye , '' she said solemnly . `` Jane Macalister said I was to be in at twelve o'clock to help her with some darning . Good-bye . '' Antonia held out one of her very long , very bony hands . She slipped it round Nell 's waist , and drawing her close , kissed her gently between her eyebrows , then she let her go .