midnight
That Idris , the princely born , nursling of wealth and luxury , should have come through the tempestuous winter-night from her regal abode , and standing at my lowly door , conjure me to fly with her through darkness and storm -- was surely a dream -- again her plaintive tones , the sight of her loveliness assured me that it was no vision . Looking timidly around , as if she feared to be overheard , she whispered : `` I have discovered -- to-morrow -- that is , to-day -- already the to-morrow is come -- before dawn , foreigners , Austrians , my mother 's hirelings , are to carry me off to Germany , to prison , to marriage -- to anything , except you and my brother -- take me away , or soon they will be here ! '' I was frightened by her vehemence , and imagined some mistake in her incoherent tale ; but I no longer hesitated to obey her . She had come by herself from the Castle , three long miles , at midnight , through the heavy snow ; we must reach Englefield Green , a mile and a half further , before we could obtain a chaise . She told me , that she had kept up her strength and courage till her arrival at my cottage , and then both failed . Now she could hardly walk . Supporting her as I did , still she lagged : and at the distance of half a mile , after many stoppages , shivering fits , and half faintings , she slipt from my supporting arm on the snow , and with a torrent of tears averred that she must be taken , for that she could not proceed .