She turned and looked at it.

It seemed to be a little face looking back at her out of its two round, blinkless eyes.

For the first time during all the years that it had watched beside her, she heard its quick, impatient tick.
She sat motionless, staring at it.

The problem, in some way, had simplified itself into a contest between herself, demanding time to think, and the little insistent clock, shouting to her to act upon blind impulse.

If she could remain motionless for another five minutes, she would have won.
The ticking of the little clock was filling the room.