twelve o'clock
Suddenly the man uttered an exclamation , and made a dash for the door , nearly upsetting the boy on the threshold . `` Tell your master I will return shortly , '' he said hurriedly , and disappeared in the direction of the Vly Market . It happened that Madam Cruger , thrifty housewife though she was , had forgotten to order an extra number of the large , flat seedcakes , known as New Year Cakes -LRB- and without which no gathering could be considered complete for New Year day , when they were handed to all callers with the accompanying glasses of mulled wine and metheglin -RRB- , and had therefore dispatched her daughter , with a colored servant carrying a capacious basket on his arm , to purchase the dainty from the one stall in the Vly Market where the aristocratic folk were wont to deal . Truth to tell , Madam Cruger had made matters somewhat uncomfortable for her portly cook when she learned that the cakes made by that functionary were too few to meet her ideas of hospitality ; and although Kitty knew that it would require speed on her part to go to the market and return in time to dress and be ready to receive their visitors in the drawing-room by twelve o'clock , she preferred to pour oil on the troubled waters and procure domestic peace at the expense of a little personal fatigue . Beside , it was not unpleasant to trip along with the merry crowd , bent on enjoying themselves , and Kitty knew that she would meet many an acquaintance , out , like herself , on some belated errand for New Year day . But there was one occurrence for which Kitty had not bargained , and that befell her as she gained the market door . The fisherman , who had followed her as swiftly as he dared without creating notice , passed close at her elbow , then turned and met her face to face .