midnight
Laden with spoil , she hastened to return , and lost her way . The night was windless , hot , and cloudy ; her load became too heavy for her ; and one by one she threw away her loaves , still endeavouring to get along , though her hobbling fell into lameness , and her weakness at last into inability to move . She lay down among the tall corn , and fell asleep . Deep in midnight , she was awaked by a rustling near her ; she would have started up , but her stiff joints refused to obey her will . A low moan close to her ear followed , and the rustling increased ; she heard a smothered voice breathe out , Water , Water ! several times ; and then again a sigh heaved from the heart of the sufferer . The old woman shuddered , she contrived at length to sit upright ; but her teeth chattered , and her knees knocked together -- close , very close , lay a half-naked figure , just discernible in the gloom , and the cry for water and the stifled moan were again uttered .