seven o’clock
On being told she was sick , he seemed rather disturbed . Possibly , however , he felt relieved to know she would not be present when he took upon him vows which should have been breathed to her . Ashton , Florence and Mabel now arrived , and soon after came Mr. and Mrs. Stanton , accompanied by Mrs. Carrington , who had been invited because it would not do to slight her , and who came because she had a mind to ! The ceremony was to take place at seven o'clock , and guests each moment arrived , until the parlor seemed almost full . Alone in her chamber sat Fanny , listening to the sounds of mirth , which grated on her ear . Night , dark and stormy , was gathering over the earth , but a darker night lay round the heart of the young girl , as she watched from her pillow a dense , black pile of clouds , which had appeared in the west , and now increased until the whole sky was overspread , as with a pall of darkness , while distant peals of muttered thunder announced the coming storm . And now louder roared the howling wind and brighter the glaring lightning flashed , while fiercer grew the conflict in Fanny 's bosom .