Twelve o'clock
Out on the still air the clock in St. John 's church steeple struck twelve strokes with clear deliberation . From the hall below they were repeated , and from the mantel behind her the hour chimed softly . She closed her eyes . `` Twelve o'clock ! Time for ladies of my age to be in bed . Not going to bed ! And my age has n't yet reached the babbling-of-the-past stage .