three to four o'clock
They , bending close , caught the words `` Saviour -- dear Saviour -- help -- at the last . '' By the time they had summoned John , though the muttering continued , the words were unintelligible : yet they knew she was praising God . In a little while the voice ceased and she lay staring calmly upwards . From three to four o'clock the last cords were loosening . Suddenly John arose , and lifting his hand in benediction , spoke the words of the Commendatory Prayer : `` O Almighty God , in whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect , after they are delivered from their earthly prison ; we humbly commend the soul of this Thy servant , our dear Mother , into Thy hands , as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour , most humbly beseeching Thee that it may be precious in Thy sight ... '' It was Hetty who bent low , took the inert hand , and after listening for a while laid it softly down on the coverlet . All was over : yet she listened until the voices of the watchers , released by her signal , rose together -- `` Hark ! a voice divides the sky -- Happy are the faithful dead In the Lord who sweetly die -- '' She raised her face as if to entreat for yet a moment 's respite .