They said that was my clock.

I brought down a chopper and a crowbar, and we sent out and collected
in two extra hired ruffians and the five of us worked away for half an
hour and got the clock out; after which the traffic up and down the
staircase was resumed, much to the satisfaction of the other tenants.

We then got the clock upstairs and put it together, and I fixed it in
the corner of the dining-room.

At first it exhibited a strong desire to topple over and fall on
people, but by the liberal use of nails and screws and bits of
firewood, I made life in the same room with it possible, and then,
being exhausted, I had my wounds dressed, and went to bed.

In the middle of the night my wife woke me up in a great state of
alarm, to say that the clock had just struck thirteen, and who did I
think was going to die?

I said I did not know, but hoped it might be the next-door dog.

My wife said she had a presentiment it meant baby. There was no
comforting her; she cried herself to sleep again.

During the course of the morning, I succeeded in persuading her that
she must have made a mistake, and she consented to smile once more.
In the afternoon the clock struck thirteen again.

This renewed all her fears. She was convinced now that both baby and