midnight
And hope just raised its head . Then one evening after supper Sir Nicholas complained of fever and restlessness , and went early to bed . In the night he was delirious . Mistress Margaret hastened up at midnight from the Dower House , and a groom galloped off to Lindfield before morning to fetch the doctor , and another to fetch Mr. Barnes , the priest , from Cuckfield . Sir Nicholas was bled to reduce the fever of the pneumonia that had attacked him . All day long he was sinking . About eleven o'clock that night he fell asleep , apparently , and Lady Maxwell , who had watched incessantly , was persuaded to lie down ; but at three o'clock in the morning , on the first of December , Mistress Margaret awakened her , and together they knelt by the bedside of the old man .