midnight
before
`` Now I will go and have a talk with Mrs. Higgins . I shall tell her that unless she does as she is told to-night I shall bring round a nurse with me to-morrow . I think that will fetch her , '' and Dr. Randolph was right . Possibly Deb felt herself on the verge of breaking down , for she consented at last to lie down on her mistress 's couch for an hour or two , but it was midnight before Olivia found herself in sole charge . There was very little to be done except to give medicine and nourishment at stated intervals and to make up the two fires as noiselessly as possible , but Olivia felt her responsibilities too acutely to be overcome by drowsiness , though Deborah lay hour after hour in the heavy sleep of utter exhaustion . Olivia 's thoughts went back to her childhood as she sat there . A hundred instances of Aunt Madge 's affection and devotion recurred to her .