midnight
But when wheat-getting was done , there was again rest for her body , and swimming withal and fishing from the eyot by the witch 's leave . And again by her own leave she went to seek Habundia in the wood , and spent a happy hour with her , and came back with a fawn which she had shot , and so but barely saved her skin from the twig-shower . Then yet again she went into the wood on the witch 's errand as well as her own , and was paid by her friend 's sweet converse , and by nought else save the grudging girding of her mistress . But on a night when September was well in , and the sky was moonless and overcast , somewhat before midnight the dame came and hung over Birdalone as she lay abed , and watched to see if she waked ; forsooth the witch 's coming had waked her ; but even so she was wary , and lay still , nor changed her breathing . So the witch turned away , but even therewith Birdalone made a shift to get a glimpse of her , and this she saw thereby , that the semblance of her was changed , and that she bore the self-same skin wherewith she had come to Utterhay , and which she had worn twice or thrice afterwards when she had an errand thither . The witch now glided swiftly to the door , and out into the night . Birdalone lay still a little , lest she should fall into a trap , and then arose very quietly and did on her smock , which lay ever under her pillow with the ring sewn thereto again , and so went out adoors also , and deemed she saw the witch some way on ahead ; but it was nothing for her light feet to overtake her .