about noon
Novalis was now by turns in Weissenfels and Grüningen . With great grief , however , he was obliged to confess , that he found Sophia worse and worse at every visit . Towards the end of January , 1797 , Erasmus also returned to Weissenfels very sick , and the expected deaths of two beings , so much beloved , filled the house with gloom . The 17th of March was Sophia 's fifteenth birthday , and on the 19th , about noon , she fell asleep in the arms of her sisters , and faithful instructress Mademoiselle Danscour , who loved her tenderly . No one dared bring the news to Novalis , until his brother Charles at last undertook the mournful office . For three days and nights , the mourner shut himself up from his friends , weeping away the hours , and then hastened to Arnstadt , that he might be with his truest friends , and nearer to the beloved place , which contained the remains of her who was dearest to him . On the 14th of April , he also lost his brother Erasmus .