one o’clock
Ignorant of the law , and convinced from her husband 's words that the stranger in rags had some sinister aim , she no sooner conceived the dread than she bundled into a hand-bag such few articles as it would hold and led the child hastily from the house . They walked to a tramway-line and had soon reached Westminster Bridge . But it was not half-past eleven , and the rain descended heavily . She sought a small eating-house not far from the Abbey , and by paying for some coffee and bread-and-butter , which neither she nor Jack could touch , obtained leave to sit in shelter till one o'clock . At five minutes to the hour she rose and hurried to the north end of the bridge , and stood there , aside from the traffic , shielding little Jack as much as she could with her umbrella , careless that her own clothing was getting wet through . Big Ben boomed its one stroke . Minute after minute passed , and her body seemed still to quiver from the sound .