nine o'clock
Both were as poison in her mind . And then there came a curious sense that something had happened . The car stopped in darkness , and through the air there came in the huge tones of Big Ben the sound of a striking hour . It was nine o'clock . They were back at Westminster . Before her was the bridge , and above was the lighted face of the clock , like some faded sun . And the strokes rolled out in swelling waves that made the whole atmosphere feel soundladen .