twelve o'clock
The night was to be passed at the Imperial Hotel in the city , and the journey proper to be begun some time on the following day . On the most momentous morning of her life , Daisy Fern announced that she had an errand to do in the city and would return shortly after twelve o'clock . As she was so thoroughly her own mistress nobody thought of questioning her more particularly . But twelve o'clock came , and one o'clock , and three , and five , and she neither was seen at Midlands nor was any message received from her . By the latter hour Mr. Fern was in a state of excitement . The entire house was in an uproar . The servants were catechised , one by one , to see if perchance any of them could guess the young lady 's destination .