twelve o'clock
He wrapped himself in the vast folds of his railway rug , with a peevish shiver , and felt inclined to quarrel with the destiny which compelled him to travel by an early train upon a pitiless winter 's day . `` Who would have thought that I could have grown so fond of the fellow , '' he muttered , `` or feel so lonely without him ? I 've a comfortable little fortune in the three per cents. ; I 'm heir presumptive to my uncle 's title ; and I know of a certain dear little girl who , as I think , would do her best to make me happy ; but I declare that I would freely give up all , and stand penniless in the world to-morrow , if this mystery could be satisfactorily cleared away , and George Talboys could stand by my side . '' He reached Southampton between eleven and twelve o'clock , and walked across the platform , with the snow drifting in his face , toward the pier and the lower end of the town . The clock of St. Michael 's Church was striking twelve as he crossed the quaint old square in which that edifice stands , and groped his way through the narrow streets leading down to the water . Mr. Maldon had established his slovenly household gods in one of those dreary thoroughfares which speculative builders love to raise upon some miserable fragment of waste ground hanging to the skirts of a prosperous town . Brigsome 's Terrace was , perhaps , one of the most dismal blocks of building that was ever composed of brick and mortar since the first mason plied his trowel and the first architect drew his plan .