the hour of twelve
Irene used to tell me that when she fell asleep , in the new world of school life , it was in your arms . Put them round me , Gloria , and let me fall asleep . '' I placed my arm gently , very gently , under her head , and then sat very still . I heard the big clock in the clock-tower slowly and distinctly strike the hour of twelve , I saw the pale lips move and heard them murmur : `` Agnus Dei , qui tollis peccata mundi , miserere mei . '' But save for this , all was silence ! And in the silence Princess Nadine slept . I was rather old to start out as a school-girl , for I was seventeen , and had never been to school before .