twelve o'clock
Susan announced that she was starving . `` It 's not more than half-past eleven , '' said Miss Cottle , screwing her body about , so that she could look down through the glass walls of the office to the clock , on the main floor below . `` Why , my heavens ! It 's twelve o'clock ! '' she announced amazedly , throwing down her pen , and stretching in her chair . And , in instant confirmation of the fact , a whistle sounded shrilly outside , followed by a dozen more whistles , high and low , constant and intermittent , sharp on the silent noon air . The girls all jumped up , except Miss Wrenn , who liked to assume that the noon hour meant nothing to her , and who often finished a bill or two after the hour struck .