midnight
On his heart as on his arm I can rest myself , and I need him so much . I can not tell you now , but you will know some time when you are no longer as strong as now , how the spirit feels the darts that are shot from the mind of another , and bury their poisoned points in the quivering life . '' She looked so weak as she spoke , her face was so transparently white , that I trembled with fear . That night we slept together -- she alone slept , however , for my eyes were open , their lids refusing to close until after midnight , and it was long after that hour before I fully lost consciousness . I felt wretched the next day in both body and mind , and my spirit was roused within me . `` I will avert it , '' I said to myself -- thinking first to ask mother how , and afterward saying aloud `` No , I 'll do it myself , Emily will do it , '' and the harder I thought the faster I worked . I never washed the dishes so quickly ; milkpans were despatched speedily to the buttery shelves , and at last Aunt Hildy , who was kneading bread , stopped , and looking at me , said : `` What on airth are you going to do ?