the clock in the church tower began to chime the hour of twelve - the hour when , her mother had told her , the door between life and death sways open a bit and the dead may pass both ways - and it was all mrs. ramage could do to keep herself from shrieking and fleeing in a panic which would not abate but grow stronger with each step ; if she began running , she knew , she would simply run until she fell down insensible .