one o'clock in the
morning
She helped the butcher to get the pig into a low cart built expressly for the conveyance of such unwieldy animals ; she looked mournfully at her departing companion , knowing that the morrow had nothing for him but a knife , that he had eaten his last meal . And while Joan listened to the farewell grunts of the fattest pig which had ever adorned her father 's sty , Mrs. Tregenza counted the money and bit a piece here and there , and wondered if she could get the next young pig from Uncle Chirgwin for even a lower figure than the last . The day which had wrought such wonders for Joan 's inner life , and brought to her eyes a sort of tears unshed till then , ended at last , and for her a sleepless night followed upon it . Not until long past one o'clock in the morning did she lose consciousness , and then the thoughts of the day broke loose again in visions , taking upon themselves fantastic shapes and moving amid dream scenery of strange splendor . Now it was her turn to conjure brain pictures out of fevered thoughts , and she woke at last with a start in the dawn , to see a faint light painting the square of her bedroom window . Looking out , she found the world dimly visible , a darker shadow through the gloom where the fishing-boats were gathering in the bay , the lighthouse lamp still shining , stars twinkling overhead , absolute silence everywhere , and a cold bite about the air . The girl went back to bed again , but slept no more and anon arose , dressed , set about morning duties , and , much to Mrs. Tregenza 's astonishment , had the fire burning and breakfast ready by the time her stepmother appeared .