midnight
I have lain here all these hours -- these ages , ye may say -- listening , listening for any sound up there that -- '' She gave a sharp quick glance at her eldest daughter , then cried out , `` Oh , my darling ! '' and feebly gathered the stiffening form to her sheltering arms . She had recognized the death-rattle . At midnight all was over , and we sat in the presence of four corpses . We covered them with such rags as we could find , and started away , fastening the door behind us . Their home must be these people 's grave , for they could not have Christian burial , or be admitted to consecrated ground . They were as dogs , wild beasts , lepers , and no soul that valued its hope of eternal life would throw it away by meddling in any sort with these rebuked and smitten outcasts .