midnight
''' She had stood with her hands clasped above her head at her first utterance of that imploration -- `` Give him back to me ! '' Then she threw herself on her knees and passionately caught both the girl 's hands in her own , crying , `` Give him back to me ! '' Phyllis flung her arms about her neck , and bowed her own head down to the shoulder of the woman whom she loved and pitied . And then -- Then through the silence of the house -- the hour was almost midnight -- there sounded the loud and continuous ringing of a bell . It was only the usual visitors ' bell of the house ; but its effect at that hour was startling -- shocking ! The two women were on their feet , waiting in silence , but with wildly beating hearts , for what was coming -- they felt that something terrible was coming . The bell had an ominous jangle .