Midnight
You will need to exert extra care over her to-night , Miss Bain . '' Soon after he took his departure , and once more Jessie was left alone with the girl whom Hubert Varrick had wedded , but did not love -- the girl who had blasted all the happiness this world held for her . Yet she felt sorry from the depths of her soul that the girl 's life was ebbing away so fast . Midnight struck , and the little hands of the cuckoo-clock on the mantel crept slowly round to one . Still there was no change , save that the white face on the pillow grew whiter , with a tinge of gray on it now . The clock on the mantel seemed to tick louder and louder , and cry out hoarsely : `` Time is fleeing fast ! It will soon be too late for Gerelda to clear Hubert Varrick and save him from a felon 's death ! ''