twelve o'clock
He came in to tell me . `` Never mind , '' I said ; `` I heard it all , God bless them ! '' I then regretted , for the first time in my life , that I had not loved money ; I would have given a good deal for the luxury of drawing a big check with these brave young fellows . I remained till twelve o'clock , debating all possibilities , forecasting , projecting all manner of plans . Now and then a stifled wail came up from the village . We agreed that Bittra should be allowed to proceed on her wedding trip , and that when she returned we would break the dreadful news as gently as possible . `` No chance of seeing the dread accident in the London papers ? ''