midnight
What had she done that her baby should be separated from her ? What had the poor little darling done ? He at least was innocent ; why should he be deprived of his mother ? At midnight she got up and lighted a candle , looked at him , took him in her arms , squeezed him to her bosom till he cried , and the thought came that it would be sweeter to kill him with her own hands than to be parted from him . The thought of murder went with the night , and she enjoyed the journey to Wandsworth . Her baby laughed and cooed , and was much admired in the omnibus , and the little street where Mrs. Spires lived seemed different . A cart of hay was being unloaded , and this gave the place a pleasant rural air .