the hour of eleven
By the time the third verse was reached Mr. Wilks 's neighbours on both sides were beating madly upon their walls and blood-curdling threats strained through the plaster . She stayed no longer , but regaining her own door sat down again to await the return of her son . Mr. Silk was long in coming , and she tried in vain to occupy herself with various small jobs as she speculated in vain on the meaning of the events of the night . She got up and stood by the open door , and as she waited the clock in the church-tower , which rose over the roofs hard by , slowly boomed out the hour of eleven . As the echoes of the last stroke died away the figure of Mr. Silk turned into the alley . `` You must ` ave ` ad quite a nice walk , '' said his mother , as she drew back into the room and noted the brightness of his eye . `` Yes , '' was the reply .