twelve o'clock
For half an hour Basil Morton 's letter had occupied his mind : he had tried to think out the problem it set forth , not to leave his friend quite unanswered ; but weariness prevailed , and with it the old mood of self-congratulation . Next morning the weather was fine ; that is to say , one could read without artificial light , and no rain fell , and far above the house-tops appeared a bluish glimmer , shot now and then with pale yellowness . Harvey decided to carry out his intention of calling upon Mrs. Abbott . She lived at Kilburn , and thither he drove shortly before twelve o'clock . He was admitted to a very cosy room , where , amid books and pictures , and by a large fire , the lady of the house sat reading . Whatever the cause , it seemed to him that his welcome fell short of cordiality , and he hastened to excuse himself for intruding at so early an hour . ` I received a letter last night which I thought you had better know of without delay . '