midnight
Mrs. Sturton 's fly was mysteriously delayed ; and I had a premonition even then , that the delay promised some diversion . The tone of the stable clock had its influence , perhaps . It was so precisely the tone of a stage clock -- high and pretentious , and with a disturbing suggestion of being unmelodiously flawed . Miss Tattersall , Olive Jervaise 's friend , a rather abundant fair young woman , warmed by excitement to the realisation that she must flirt with some one , also noticed the theatrical sound of that announcement of midnight . She giggled a little nervously as stroke succeeded stroke in an apparently unending succession . `` It seems as if it were going on all night , '' she said to me , in a self-conscious voice , as if the sound of the bell had some emotional effect upon her . `` It 's because it 's out of place , '' I said for the sake of saying something ; `` theatrical and artificial , you know .