midnight
It was a wintry one . The darkness gathered , the snow was falling , the wind wailed plaintively about the house or shook it with fitful gusts . The doctor had paid his last visit and gone away with that dismal remark to the nearest friend of the family that he `` believed there was nothing more that he could do '' -- a remark which is always overheard by some one it is not meant for and strikes a lingering half-conscious hope dead with a withering shock ; the medicine phials had been removed from the bedside and put out of sight , and all things made orderly and meet for the solemn event that was impending ; the patient , with closed eyes , lay scarcely breathing ; the watchers sat by and wiped the gathering damps from his forehead while the silent tears flowed down their faces ; the deep hush was only interrupted by sobs from the children , grouped about the bed . After a time -- it was toward midnight now -- Mr. Hawkins roused out of a doze , looked about him and was evidently trying to speak . Instantly Laura lifted his head and in a failing voice he said , while something of the old light shone in his eyes : `` Wife -- children -- come nearer -- nearer . The darkness grows . Let me see you all , once more . ''