twelve o’clock
How well you 're looking ! I never could have believed -- ' ` Pardon me , ' interposed Nicholas . ` My question -- I am extremely anxious to know . ' ` Why , he has a troublesome affair of business , ' replied Crowl , ` and will not be home before twelve o'clock . He was very unwilling to go , I can tell you , but there was no help for it . However , he left word that you were to make yourself comfortable till he came back , and that I was to entertain you , which I shall be very glad to do . ' In proof of his extreme readiness to exert himself for the general entertainment , Mr. Crowl drew a chair to the table as he spoke , and helping himself plentifully to the cold meat , invited Nicholas and Smike to follow his example .