midnight
She suppressed , as the sort of thing for London , a thought that came into her head at this moment , that it was the first time the family coronet had been of the slightest use to any living creature ! Not here , with the hush of the Feudal System still on the land , and the old church at Chorlton 's monotonous belfry calling its flock to celebrate the Third Sunday in Advent . For next Sunday was Christmas Eve , and old Maisie 's eighty-first birthday . Next Monday was old Phoebe 's , with just the stroke of midnight between them . Gwen seized the opportunity to get from Dr. Nash a fuller account of his disclosure to old Phoebe . He told her what we know already . `` Only I 'm due at the other end of the village , '' said he , ending up .