twelve o'clock
Old Judge Burrage attempted to address us at the corner about the vast progress of science . The postmaster pinned a card on his back with the well-known legend , `` I am somewhat of a liar myself . '' And all the while the sun shone high and hot , while Jode grew quieter and colder under the certainty of victory . It was after twelve o'clock when the people came from church , and no change or sign was to be seen . Jode told us , with a chill smile , that he had visited his instruments and found no new indications . Fifteen minutes after that the sky was brown . Sudden , padded , dropsical clouds were born in the blue above our heads .