midnight
The calm and the quiet were refreshing after the excitement of the day . Gradually her thoughts became confused -- dim pictures floated past her mental vision , her breathing became shorter , and she slept . The stillness was unbroken , save the clock striking the quarters of every hour . Scarcely had the last quarter to midnight sounded , when the window was softly opened , and a dark form descended into the room . He listened a moment , looking at the sleeping one , who moved not ; then extinguished the light , creeping toward the door . Wilhelmine slept on . Suddenly it seemed to her as if sunbeams blinded her , and she started up from a profound sleep .