twelve o'clock
With characteristic determination he went back to his desk , and continued the letter which the visit of the Irish elector had interrupted . Meanwhile Mr. Patrick Ballymolloy was driven to the house of the Republican candidate , Mr. Jobbing . Sybil was right when she said the family politics at the Wyndhams ' were disturbed . Indeed the disturbance was so great that Mrs. Wyndham was dressed and down-stairs before twelve o'clock , which had never before occurred in the memory of the oldest servant . `` It is too perfectly exciting , my dears , '' she exclaimed as Joe and Sybil entered the room , followed -- at a respectful distance by Ronald . `` I ca n't stand it one minute longer ! How do you do , Mr. Surbiton ? ''