midnight
This roused his ire more , while I saw that Voltaire watched me with his light glittering eye , as if expecting a scene . After dinner , this being New Year 's Day , we passed a more than usually merry time . Stories were told , old ballads were sung , while Roger de Coverley was danced in downright earnest by most of those who were present . By midnight , however , the old hall was silent ; each of us had repaired to his room , and most , I expect , were quietly asleep , when a terrible scream was heard , after which there were shouts for help and hysterical cries . The sounds seemed to come from the direction of the servants ' hall , and , quickly putting on some clothes , I hurried thither . I soon found that the noise had roused the whole household , and so , when I arrived , I found a number of the guests had gathered together . On looking into the room , I saw that the housekeeper was lying in a swoon , one of the servants was in hysterics , while Simon Slowden , who was in the room , and the page boy looked as white as sheets , and were trembling evidently with fear .