about two o’clock in the morning
His mother 's face grew paler and paler as he went on . She never interrupted him by so much as a single word ; but when he had done , she moved her chair close to his , put her arm round his neck , and said to him : `` Isaac , you dreamed your ill dream on this Wednesday morning . What time was it when you saw the fair woman with the knife in her hand ? '' Isaac reflected on what the landlord had said when they had passed by the clock on his leaving the inn ; allowed as nearly as he could for the time that must have elapsed between the unlocking of his bedroom door and the paying of his bill just before going away , and answered : `` Somewhere about two o'clock in the morning . '' His mother suddenly quitted her hold of his neck , and struck her hands together with a gesture of despair . `` This Wednesday is your birthday , Isaac , and two o'clock in the morning was the time when you were born . '' Isaac 's capacities were not quick enough to catch the infection of his mother 's superstitious dread .