three o'clock
After preparing some food for her sister , whose appetite still remained good , she drank a cup of tea , and then sat down to work upon the mourning garment . Towards midnight , Margaret , who had fallen asleep early in the evening , began to grow restless , and to moan as if in pain . Every now and then , Ellen would pause in her work and look towards the bed , with an anxious countenance ; and once or twice she got up , and stood over her sister ; but she did not awake . It was three o'clock when the last stitch was taken , and then Margaret 's cough had awakened her , and she seemed to suffer so much from that and from difficult breathing , that Ellen , even after lying down , did not go to sleep for an hour . It was long after sunrise when she awoke . `` Must you go to-day , too ? '' inquired Margaret , looking into her sister 's face anxiously , on seeing her , after the hastily prepared breakfast had been eaten , take up her bonnet and shawl .