twelve o’clock
But Nikky did not come . Came German and French , mathematics and music and no Nikky . Came at last the riding-hour -- and still no Nikky . At twelve o'clock , Prince Ferdinand William Otto , clad in his riding-garments of tweed knickers , puttees , and a belted jacket , stood by the schoolroom window and looked out . The inner windows of his suite faced the courtyard , but the schoolroom opened over the Place -- a bad arrangement surely , seeing what distractions to lessons may take place in a public square , what pigeons feeding in the sun , what bands with drums and drum-majors , what children flying kites . `` I do n't understand it , '' the Crown Prince said plaintively . `` He is generally very punctual .