nearly four o'clock
The whole dream had the underlying terror of a nightmare , and just as the distance diminished , and they were nearly caught , the ground gave way and they pitched over a precipice . As they were falling and about to be dashed on the rocks at the bottom of the ravine , she heard a woman 's laugh , and recognized it as that of the Contessa Maria Potensi . She awoke , trembling , and lit her lamp . It was nearly four o'clock , and she had slept but half an hour . Near her bed was an American magazine ; she read the advertisements , to fill her mind with thoughts commonplace and practical enough to banish dreams . The sun was rising when at last she fell asleep , and she did not awake until nearly noon . The morning 's mail brought her a letter from John Derby -- a good letter , simple and frank , like himself , full of enthusiasm and of plans for making the `` Little Devil '' a model settlement .