midnight
But , that Phoebe and Ruth were there , beside her , was the fact that kept the strongest hold of her mind . * * * * * Eleven o'clock . Granny Marrable had been right , and old Maisie had slept again , or seemed to sleep , after some dutiful useless attempts to head off Death by trivialities of nourishment . The clock-hand , intent upon its second , oblivious of its predecessors , incredulous of those to come , was near halfway to midnight when Ruth Thrale , rising from beside her mother , came to her fellow-watchers in the front-room and said : -- `` I think she moved . '' Both came to the bedside . Yes -- she had moved a little , and was trying to speak . Gwen , half seated , half leaning on the pillow as before , took a hand that barely closed on hers , and spoke .