midnight
She had thought him far gone in Rome , and this was worse ; there was but one change possible now . There was a strange tranquillity in his face ; it was as still as the lid of a box . With this he was a mere lattice of bones ; when he opened his eyes to greet her it was as if she were looking into immeasurable space . It was not till midnight that the nurse came back ; but the hours , to Isabel , had not seemed long ; it was exactly what she had come for . If she had come simply to wait she found ample occasion , for he lay three days in a kind of grateful silence . He recognised her and at moments seemed to wish to speak ; but he found no voice . Then he closed his eyes again , as if he too were waiting for something -- for something that certainly would come .