midnight
If the dining-room was empty , other unprecedented demands were made upon Henrica , for then her aunt , who could not endure to be alone a moment , was sick and miserable , and she was obliged to nurse her . That she gladly and readily served the suffering , she wrote , she had sufficiently proved by her attendance on the village children when they had the smallpox , but if her aunt could not sleep she was compelled to watch beside her , hold her hand , and listen until morning as she moaned , whined and prayed , sometimes cursing herself and sometimes the treacherous world . She , Henrica , had come to the house strong and well , but so much disgust and anger , such constant struggling to control herself had robbed her of her health . The young girl had written until midnight . The letters became more and more irregular and indistinct , the lines more crooked , and with the last words : `` My head , my poor head ! You will see that I am losing my senses . I beseech you , I beseech you , my dear , stern father , take me home .