one o'clock in the morning
It must be part of the fabric itself . Lord Darcy told himself that he had no doubt on the subject , yet the way across the room seemed unaccountably long , and his heart beat fast with apprehension . In another moment he stood in the corner , and knew too well the meaning of that patch of white , for Peggy Saville lay stretched upon the curtain , motionless , unconscious -- to all appearance , dead ! It was one o'clock in the morning when a carriage drove up to the door of the Larches , and Mrs Asplin alighted , all pale , tear-stained , and tremulous . She had been nodding over the fire in her bedroom when the young people had returned with the news of the tragic ending to the night 's festivity , and no persuasion or argument could induce her to wait until the next day before flying to Peggy 's side . `` No , no ! '' she cried .