About two o'clock
The women , Mrs. Ray and the doctor 's wife , who watched with poor Ephraim , heard her praying all night long . They sat in grave silence , and their eyes kept meeting with shocked significance as they listened to her . Now and then they wet the cloth on Ephraim 's face . About two o'clock Mrs. Ray tiptoed into the pantry , and brought forth a mince-pie . `` I found one that had been cut on the top shelf , '' she whispered . She and the doctor 's wife ate the remainder of poor Ephraim 's pie . The two women stayed next day and assisted in preparations for the funeral .