midnight
When she got on her knees , however , she found it impossible to pray : her brain felt in a whirl , her feelings were unprayer-like ; and with the temporary relief of believing Nan in no immediate danger came such a flood of hatred toward Annie as almost frightened her . She tried to ask God to make Nan better -- quite well ; but even this petition seemed to go no way -- to reach no one -- to fall flat on the empty air . She rose from her knees , and got quietly into bed . Nan lay in that half-drowsy and languid state until midnight . Hester , with all her very slight experience of illness , thought that as long as Nan was quiet she must be getting better ; but Miss Danesbury was by no means so sure , and , notwithstanding the doctor 's verdict , she felt anxious about the child . Hester had said that she could not sleep ; but at Miss Danesbury 's special request she got into bed , and before she knew anything about it was in a sound slumber . At midnight , when all the house was quiet , and Miss Danesbury kept a lonely watch by the sick child 's pillow , there came a marked change for the worse in the little one .