midday
The overseer of the room , a florid young man with dissipated eyes , who , at Amherst 's signal , had attached himself to the party , stopped short and turned a furious glance on the surrounding operatives . `` What in hell ... ? It 's the first I seen of it , '' he exclaimed , making an ineffectual attempt to snatch the mourning emblem from its place . At the same instant the midday whistle boomed through the building , and at the signal the machinery stopped , and silence fell on the mills . The more distant workers at once left their posts to catch up the hats and coats heaped untidily in the corners ; but those nearer by , attracted by the commotion around the card , stood spell-bound , fixing the visitors with a dull stare . Amherst had reddened to the roots of his hair . He knew in a flash what the token signified , and the sight stirred his pity ; but it also jarred on his strong sense of discipline , and he turned sternly to the operatives .