midnight
She passed a worse night than he , for while the man accused fate , she had to accuse herself . Colina was nothing if not whole-hearted ; coward was the gentlest of the names she called herself . More than once she was on the point of rushing out of the house and , regardless of consequences , imploring Ambrose 's forgiveness . However , after midnight a way out of her coil suggested itself like a star shining out . She slept for a peaceful hour . Long before dawn she arose and awakened her maid . This was Cora , a stolid Cree half-breed , doggedly devoted to her mistress and accustomed to receiving her impulsive orders like inscrutable commands from Heaven .