12 o'clock at night
Many of the articles of furniture left them had been disposed of to supply the calls of urgent want . In the room was an old four post bedstead , with curtains almost worn out , one mattrass with two small pillows , a bolster that was almost flat , three old blankets and cotton sheets , of coarse description , three rush-bottom chairs , an old claw table , a chest of draws , with a few battered band-boxes on the top of it , a miserable bit of carpet before the fire-place , a wooden box for coals , a little tin fender , and an old poker . What there was , however , was kept clean , the floor and yellow paint was clean , and the washing tub which sat in one corner of the room . `` It was a bitter cold night , the wind blew and shook the window , when a young girl of about eighteen sat by the tallow candle , which burned in a tin candlestick , at 12 o'clock at night , finishing a piece of work with the needle which she was to return next morning . Her name was Lettice Arnold . She was naturally of a cheerful , hopeful temper , and though work and disappointment had faded the bright colors of hope , still hope buoyed up her spirits . `` Her sister Myra was delicate , and lay on the mattrass on that night , tossing about with suffering , unable to rest .