midnight
This woman like those of her sex and class was unlettered and superstitious . Her faith in spells and apparitions , was of the most lively kind . Could not her conscience be awakened by a voice from the grave ! Lonely and at midnight , my aunt might be introduced , upbraiding her for her injustice , and commanding her to attone for it by acknowledging the claim of the rightful proprietor . True it was , that no subsequent will might exist , but this was the fruit of mistake , or of negligence . She probably intended to cancel the old one , but this act might , by her own weakness , or by the artifices of her servant , be delayed till death had put it out of her power . In either case a mandate from the dead could scarcely fail of being obeyed .