ten
o'clock
He mixed one of the powders and stooped down . `` Irene -- Irene , take this for me , wo n't you , dear ? '' She gave no intimation of having heard him till he placed the wineglass to her mouth and raised her head tenderly ; then she swallowed the contents mechanically . At the expiration of an hour he repeated the dose , and at ten o'clock , while he sat watching her intently , he saw the eyelids begin to droop , the long , silky lashes quivered and touched her cheeks . When he listened to her breathing , and knew that at last she slept , his grey head sank on his chest , and he murmured , inaudibly , `` Thank God ! '' Patient as a woman , he kept his place at her side , fearing to move lest he should wake her ; the dreary hours of night wore away ; morning came , gloriously bright , and still she slept . The flush had faded , leaving her wan as death , and the little hands were now at rest .