Here again she was met by an obstacle.

There was a difficulty in opening the glass-case which protected the dial.

After uselessly searching for some instrument to help her, she got from the footman (without telling him what she wanted it for) a small chisel.

With this, she opened the case--after accidentally scratching the brass frame of it--and set the hands of the clock by guess.

She was flurried at the time; fearing that her mistress would discover her.