Hearing the bell as standing here... listening to this bell in the middle of the day, the middle of the day bell, the Angelus bell in the middle of the day, ringing out through the grey light to here, standing in the kitchen, hearing the bell..."
-- Marcus Conway (chapter 1 paragraph 1-6)

Importance: In this quote, Conway introduces the frame narrative of the novel. Although much of the novel's action spans Conway's life, Conway's narration always returns to him standing (and sitting) in his kitchen, listening to the Angelus Bell ring on All Souls' Day. The Angelus Bell rings throughout the novel, reminding the reader that Conway is dead, and that his ghost narrates the novel.

The site of that engine spread over the floor would stand to me forever as proof of a world which was a lot less stable and unified than my childish imagination held it to be... the whole construct closer to collapse...
-- Marcus Conway (chapter 1 paragraph 2)