the hour of twelve
Neither Adrian nor myself would have been so anxious , if our own success had depended on our exertions ; but we had egged our friend on to the enterprise , and it became us to ensure his triumph . Idris , who entertained the highest opinion of his abilities , was warmly interested in the event : and my poor sister , who dared not hope , and to whom fear was misery , was plunged into a fever of disquietude . Day after day passed while we discussed our projects for the evening , and each night was occupied by debates which offered no conclusion . At last the crisis came : the night when parliament , which had so long delayed its choice , must decide : as the hour of twelve passed , and the new day began , it was by virtue of the constitution dissolved , its power extinct . We assembled at Raymond 's house , we and our partizans . At half past five o'clock we proceeded to the House . Idris endeavoured to calm Perdita ; but the poor girl 's agitation deprived her of all power of self-command .