midnight
O wad some power the giftie gie us , ' '' chanted Bea 's tongue between clicks , '' ` To see oursels as ithers see us , It wad fra mony a blunder free us , And foolish notion . ' '' Then as Berta took a threatening step in her direction , she broke into a run . `` I think I 'll take some exercise now , '' she called back mockingly as she fled up the stairs . At midnight Berta was roused wide awake by an insistent rapping on the wall between her room and Bea 's . Startled at last wide awake , she asked what was the trouble . Upon receiving no audible reply , she hurried around through the corridor to the door . She heard the key turned as she grasped the knob .