about four o’clock in the morning
Miss Aldclyffe would never have known had her companion stayed in the house all night ; but the honesty of Cytherea 's nature rebelled against even the friendly deceit which such a proceeding would have involved . An arrangement was come to whereby she was to be taken home in the pony-carriage instead of the brougham that fetched her ; the carriage to put up at Tolchurch farm for the night , and on that account to be in readiness to bring her back earlier . The third and last instance of Cytherea 's subjection to those periodic terrors of the night which had emphasized her connection with the Aldclyffe name and blood occurred at the present date . It was about four o'clock in the morning when Cytherea , though most probably dreaming , seemed to awake -- and instantly was transfixed by a sort of spell , that had in it more of awe than of affright . At the foot of her bed , looking her in the face with an expression of entreaty beyond the power of words to portray , was the form of Miss Aldclyffe -- wan and distinct . No motion was perceptible in her ; but longing -- earnest longing -- was written in every feature . Cytherea believed she exercised her waking judgment as usual in thinking , without a shadow of doubt , that Miss Aldclyffe stood before her in flesh and blood .