midnight
`` I fear brain fever , '' he said to Dr. Fisher after the introduction was over , making the two physicians acquainted . `` Come , '' and the door of Pickering 's room closed on them both . And twilight settled down on the old square white house , and on the new-made grave under the oak in the meadow ; and Brierly people , by twos and threes , came to inquire for `` the sick young man , '' going away with saddened faces . And a messenger from the telegraph office drove up just as Mr. Higby was pulling on the boots to his tired feet for a long walk to the village , handing in the message : Mrs. Cabot and I will take the midnight train . RICHARD A. CABOT , -LSB- Illustration : THEN PHRONSIE GLANCED BACK AGAIN , AND SOFTLY JOGGED THE CRADLE . -RSB- And then there was nothing more to do , only to wait for the coming of Pickering 's uncle and aunt . And the next day Pickering 's calls were incessant for `` Polly , Polly , '' sometimes upbraiding her as the brown eyes were fastened piteously on his wild face ; and then begging her to just smile at him and remember how he had loved her all these years .