——What does ‘a cold welcome’ refer to?

On Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall.

It was the last day of the year and a large crowd of people had gathered under
the Town Hall clock.

It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time.

Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped.

The big minute hand did not move.

We waited and waited, but nothing happened.

Suddenly someone shouted, ‘It's two minutes past twelve! The clock has stopped!’

I looked at my watch.

It was true.

The big clock refused to welcome the New Year.

At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.

——end