midnight
All at once Käte longed to fly to her husband 's arms and find shelter on his breast . She had quite forgotten she had wanted to go to the Lämkes straight away . Besides , how could she ? It was almost midnight , and who knows , perhaps she would only find a mother there , who was just as unhappy as she ? Lost children -- alas , one does not know which is more terrible , a lost son or a lost daughter ! Käte cried bitterly . But when the tears stole from under her closed lids and ran down her cheeks , she became calmer .