one o'clock
But this day was to put an end to her mind 's prolonged and painful suspense , in regard to him . From about nine o'clock in the morning , she began to look momently for his arrival . But the time slowly wore on , and yet he did not come . Ten , eleven twelve , one o'clock came and went , and the boy was still absent from his mother , whose heart yearned to see his fair face , and to hear his voice , so pleasant to her ear , with unutterable longings . But still the hours went by -- two , three , four , and then the dusky twilight began to fall , bringing with it the heart-aching assurance that her boy would not come home . The tears , which she had restrained all day , now flowed freely , and her over-excited feelings gave way to a gush of bitter grief . The next day came and went , and the next , and the next -- but there was no word from Henry .