two o'clock in the morning
A very little of fact was enough to set her fevered fancy at work at this juncture ; she thought him still in the neighborhood ; she feared his sudden appearance ; and her nervous malady developed consequences so grave that Dr. Jones began to look serious , and the household was alarmed . It was the beginning of June , and the cuckoo at this time of the summer scarcely ceased his cry for more than two or three hours during the night . The bird 's note , so familiar to her ears from infancy , was now absolute torture to the poor girl . On the Friday following the Wednesday of Melbury 's departure , and the day after the discovery of Fitzpiers 's hat , the cuckoo began at two o'clock in the morning with a sudden cry from one of Melbury 's apple-trees , not three yards from the window of Grace 's room . `` Oh , he is coming ! '' she cried , and in her terror sprang clean from the bed out upon the floor . These starts and frights continued till noon ; and when the doctor had arrived and had seen her , and had talked with Mrs. Melbury , he sat down and meditated .