twelve o'clock
at night
It had been the wish of William Dulan and his mother that he should take holy orders , and he was about to enter a course of theological study under the direction of his uncle when an event occurred which totally altered the plan of his life . This event was the death of Dr. Dulan , his kind uncle and benefactor . All thoughts of the church had now to be relinquished , and present employment , by which to support his mother , to be sought . * * * It was twelve o'clock at night , about three months after the death of Dr. Dulan . The mother of William , by her hearth , still plied her needle , now the only means of their support . Her son sat by her side , as of old . He had been engaged some hours in reading to her .