midnight
When she returned from her grandparents , before sunset , she was alone with him , and he , kissing her arm , had murmured that wherever the Greek tongue was spoken there was not one more beautiful . The gem was worthy of its loveliness . So she had opened her baggage to take out the circlet which Antony had given , and it again enclasped her arm when she entered the sick-room . Because Dion had told her that he deemed her fairest in the simple white robe she had worn a few days before , when there were no guests save himself and Gorgias , and she had sung until after midnight his favourite songs as though all were intended for him alone , her choice had fallen upon this garment . And she rejoiced that she had worn it -- the wounded man 's eyes rested upon her so joyously when she sat down opposite to him . The physician had forbidden him to talk , and urged him to sleep if possible . So Barine only held his hand in silence , whispering , whenever he opened his eyes , a tender word of love and encouragement .