twelve o'clock
Mary was obliged to relate the story of her trip from start to finish , while three rapt listeners nodded and exclaimed in sympathy or broke in to ask questions . She had written faithfully , but , as Isaiah said , `` writin ' ai n't tellin ' . '' So Mary told and her uncles and Mr. Chase listened and questioned . It was twelve o'clock that night before anyone thought of going to bed , and next morning at the breakfast table the questioning began all over again . `` Mrs. Wyeth was down at the dock , I presume likely , to meet you when your ship made port ? '' queried Zoeth . `` Yes , she was there , '' replied Mary .