half past twelve o’clock
Ham Peggotty , who went to the national school , and was a very dragon at his catechism , and who may therefore be regarded as a credible witness , reported next day , that happening to peep in at the parlour-door an hour after this , he was instantly descried by Miss Betsey , then walking to and fro in a state of agitation , and pounced upon before he could make his escape . That there were now occasional sounds of feet and voices overhead which he inferred the cotton did not exclude , from the circumstance of his evidently being clutched by the lady as a victim on whom to expend her superabundant agitation when the sounds were loudest . That , marching him constantly up and down by the collar -LRB- as if he had been taking too much laudanum -RRB- , she , at those times , shook him , rumpled his hair , made light of his linen , stopped his ears as if she confounded them with her own , and otherwise tousled and maltreated him . This was in part confirmed by his aunt , who saw him at half past twelve o'clock , soon after his release , and affirmed that he was then as red as I was . The mild Mr. Chillip could not possibly bear malice at such a time , if at any time . He sidled into the parlour as soon as he was at liberty , and said to my aunt in his meekest manner : ` Well , ma'am , I am happy to congratulate you . ' ` What upon ? '