two o’clock
Lord Mowbray had begun to write a letter to Mr. Harrington , but could not go on -- had torn it to bits -- and had desired the writer of the present letter to say , `` that he could not go out of the world easy , without his forgiveness -- to refer him to a woman of the name of Fowler , for explanation -- a waiting-maid -- a housekeeper now , in his mother 's family . Lord Mowbray assured Mr. Harrington , that he did not mean to have carried the _ jest _ -LRB- the word _ jest _ scratched out -RRB- , the thing farther than to show him his power to break off matters , if he pleased -- but he now repented . '' This dictated part of the letter was so confused , and so much like the delirium of a man in a fever , that I should certainly have concluded it to be without real meaning , had it not coincided with the words which Fowler had said to me . On turning over the page I saw a postscript -- Lord Mowbray , at two o'clock that morning , had expired . His brother officer gave no particulars , and expressed little regret , but begged me to represent the affair properly ; and added something about the lieutenant-colonelcy , which was blotted so much , either purposely or accidentally , that I could not read it . My father , who was a truly humane man , was excessively shocked by the letter ; and at first , so much engrossed by the account of the manner of the young man 's death , and by the idea of the shock and distress of the mother and sister , that he scarcely adverted to the unintelligible messages to me . He observed , indeed , that the writer of the letter seemed to be a fool , and to have very little feeling .