twelve o'clock
she had said to Margaretta . Now Sir Omicron was the great London physician , and might , no doubt , do much in that way . But no such happy order had as yet been given ; and , as far as the family could foresee , paterfamilias intended to pass the winter with them at Courcy . The guests , as I have said , were all gone , and none but the family were in the house when her ladyship waited upon her lord one morning at twelve o'clock , a few days after Mr. Dale 's visit to the castle . He always breakfasted alone , and after breakfast found in a French novel and a cigar what solace those innocent recreations were still able to afford him . When the novel no longer excited him and when he was saturated with smoke , he would send for his wife . After that , his valet would dress him .