midnight
All day the rain had been pending ; all night it had held off until the whole earth seemed to pulsate with the desire for relief . Jocelyn kept moving , so that the changing air wafted over the little bare limbs might allay the fever . She was in evening dress , having , indeed , been called from the drawing-room by Marie ; and the child 's woolly black head was pressed against her breast as if to seek relief from the inward pressure on the awakening brain . A missionary possessing some small knowledge of medicine had been with them until midnight , and , having done his best , had gone away , leaving the child to the two women . Maurice had been in twice , clumsily , on tiptoe , to look with ill-concealed awe at the child , and to whisper hopes to Marie which displayed a ludicrous , if lamentable , ignorance of what he was talking about . `` Little chap 's better , '' he said ; `` I 'm sure of it . See , Marie , his eyes are brighter .