midnight
Dame Gourlay perceived that Lucy shuddered at her external appearance , which we have already described when we found her in the death-chamber of blind Alice ; and while internally she hated the poor girl for the involuntary horror with which she saw she was regarded , she commenced her operations by endeavouring to efface or overcome those prejudices which , in her heart , she resented as mortal offences . This was easily done , for the hag 's external ugliness was soon balanced by a show of kindness and interest , to which Lucy had of late been little accustomed ; her attentive services and real skill gained her the ear , if not the confidence , of her patient ; and under pretence of diverting the solitude of a sick-room , she soon led her attention captive by the legends in which she was well skilled , and to which Lucy 's habit of reading and reflection induced her to `` lend an attentive ear . '' Dame Gourlay 's tales were at first of a mild and interesting character -- Of fays that nightly dance upon the wold , And lovers doom 'd to wander and to weep , And castles high , where wicked wizards keep Their captive thralls . Gradually , however , they assumed a darker and more mysterious character , and became such as , told by the midnight lamp , and enforced by the tremulous tone , the quivering and livid lip , the uplifted skinny forefinger , and the shaking head of the blue-eyed hag , might have appalled a less credulous imagination in an age more hard of belief . The old Sycorax saw her advantage , and gradually narrowed her magic circle around the devoted victim on whose spirit she practised . Her legends began to relate to the fortunes of the Ravenswood family , whose ancient grandeur and portentous authority credulity had graced with so many superstitious attributes . The story of the fatal fountain was narrated at full length , and with formidable additions , by the ancient sibyl .