midnight
Springing the lid , he handed it to her , saying : `` My mother knows all about you , and she sends you this . '' Martha took out the beautiful necklace of pearls and read the tender little note , inside the case . Her eyes filled with happy tears , and looking up into Arthur 's smiling face , her last doubt vanished . A few hours later , when the old clock on the wall , slowly struck the midnight hour , telling them that another Christmas morning had come , they listened to it , hand in hand without a spoken word , but in their hearts was the echo of all the Christmas bells that were ringing around the world .