Nine o'clock
To her worshiping gaze they had seemed glimpses of the spirit 's home ; nay , loving eyes shining down upon her thorny pathway . But now , the twinkling rays fell unheeded , impotent to pierce the sable clouds of grief . She sat looking out into the night , with strained eyes that seemed fastened upon a corpse . An hour passed thus , and , as the clang of the town clock died away the shrill voice of the watchman rang through the air : `` Nine o'clock ; and all 's well ! '' Beulah lifted her head , and listened . `` All 's well ! '' The mockery maddened her , and she muttered audibly : `` That is the sort of sympathy I shall have through life .