twelve o'clock
She was quite correct there . Mr. Holden was naturally crabbed , and fair weather with him was the exception rather than the rule . On the present occasion it did not last many hours . Abner Holden went to the store , but made other calls on the way , so that he was three hours absent , and did not return till twelve o'clock , the usual dinner hour in his household . Meanwhile , Mr. Richmond , his caller of the morning , had been to see Sam Nichols , and inspected the horse he had for sale . He did not altogether like its appearance , and , moreover , he was prejudiced against him by what he had heard from Abner Holden , and came away without effecting a purchase . `` I do n't think I can do better , '' he reflected , `` than to take that horse of Holden 's .