eight o'clock
Open , frank , free , and generous to a fault , she always thought of others , never of her own welfare . The long stay of Clotelle caused some uneasiness to Miss Wilson ; yet she dared not tell her father , for he had forbidden the slave-girl 's going to the prison to see her lover . While the clock on the church near by was striking eleven , Georgiana called Sam , and sent him to the prison in search of Clotelle . `` The girl went away from here at eight o'clock , '' was the jailer 's answer to the servant 's inquiries . The return of Sam without having found the girl saddened the heart of the young mistress . `` Sure , then , '' said she , `` the poor , heartbroken thing has made way with herself . '' Still , she waited till morning before breaking the news of Clotelle 's absence to her father .