ten o'clock
Come as late as you please . You 'll find me waiting here in the parlour . '' The hours that followed were trying ones for Katherine . She sat about with her aunt till toward ten o'clock . Then her father returned from his last call , and soon thereafter they all went to their rooms . Katherine remained upstairs till she thought her father and aunt were settled , then slipped down to the parlour , set the front door ajar , and sat waiting in the darkness . She heard the Court House clock with judicial slowness count off eleven o'clock -- then after a long , long space , count off twelve .