three o'clock
No ghost , of whatever form , could frighten her , she told herself . She had never believed in omens or superstitions , and she steeled herself not to believe in them now . So she remained there in patience , seeking some natural solution of the extraordinary enigma . But though she waited until the chimes rang out three o'clock and the moon was going down , she heard no other sound . The Whispers had suddenly ended , and the silence of those gaunt , frowning old walls was undisturbed . A slight wind had now sprung up , sweeping across the hills , and causing her to feel chill . Therefore , at last she was reluctantly compelled to quit her post of observation , and retrace her steps by the rough byroad to the house , entering by one of the windows of the morning-room , of which the burglar-alarm was broken , and which on many occasions she had unfastened after her nocturnal rambles with Stewart .