the hour of twelve
After a time a dull , thrumming sound attracted his attention . It was something like Files 's dinner gong , whose summons Mr. Britt was wont to obey on the instant . Mr. Britt was certain that it was not the gong ; however , he glanced up at the clock on the wall , then he leaped out of his chair . In his amazement he rapped out , `` Well , I 'll be -- '' That clock was reliable ; it marked the hour of twelve . Mr. Britt had received convincing evidence that the rhapsody of composition makes morsels of hours and gulps days in two bites . But he had completed five stanzas . He concluded that they would do , though he had planned on five more .