midnight
`` Aw , shut up . If she went over here , she 'll come out here . We 'll wait . '' The midnight gong and the noise of the women shuffling out into the courtyard drowned that conversation for E. Eliot . She stood and watched the gatekeeper saunter indoors , not waiting for the man who relieved him on duty . She watched Genevieve go forward and meet the factory hands . The newcomer shyly spoke to the first group .