twelve o'clock
enquired the other , turning very pale . Miss Chiffers shook her head , and then stooped to pick up a hairpin . `` One of 'em 's called Dick , '' she said , replacing the pin . `` Tell them I 'm not at home , '' said Flower , hastily , `` but that I shall be back at twelve o'clock , See ? '' He produced a shilling , and the small girl , with an appreciative nod , left the room , and closed the door behind her . Flower , suffering severely from nervous excitement , heard a discussion in the passage below , and then sounds of a great multitude coming upstairs and opening various doors on its way , in spite of the indignant opposition afforded by the daughter of the house . `` What 's in here ? ''