midnight
She was full of questioning : and , above all , eager to know whether it was true that King Charles was at heart as staunch a papist as his brother the Duke of York was believed to be , though even the Duke lacked the courage to bear witness to the true faith . Two lay-sisters brought in a repast of cakes and syrups and light wines , such delicate and dainty food as the pious ladies of the convent were especially skilled in preparing , and which they deemed all-sufficient for the entertainment of company ; even when one of their guests was a rugged soldier like Sir John Kirkland . When the light collation had been tasted and praised , the coach came to the door again , and swallowed up the beautiful lady and the old cavalier , who vanished from Angela 's sight in a cloud of dust , waving hands from the coach window . The quiet days went by , and grew into years , and time was only marked by the gradual failure of the reverend mother 's health ; so gradual , so gentle a decay , that it was only when looking back on St. Sylvester 's Eve that her great-niece became aware how much of strength and activity had been lost since the Superior knelt in her place near the altar , listening to the solemn music of the midnight Mass that sanctified the passing of the year . This year the reverend mother was led to her seat between two nuns , who sustained her feeble limbs . This year the meek knees , which had worn the marble floor in long hours of prayer during eighty pious years , could no longer bend . The meek head was bowed , the bloodless hands were lifted up in supplication , but the fingers were wasted and stiffened , and there was pain in every movement of the joints .