one o'clock
No -- he had lived for it -- earned it -- won it . And musing over these long-ago times , my heart melted -- foolish old heart that it was ! with a trembling joy , to think that Providence had , in some way , used my poor useless hand to give to him this blessing , a man 's chiefest blessing of a virtuous and loving wife -- which had crowned his life for all these wonderful years . As it neared one o'clock , I could see my ancient friend the Abbey clock with not a wrinkle in his old face , staring at me through the bare Abbey trees . I began to feel rather anxious . I went into the deserted office ; and thence , none forbidding , ensconced myself behind the sheltering bank blinds . The crowd had scarcely moved ; a very honest , patient , weary crowd dense in the centre , thinning towards the edges .