nearly noon
He and Janet sat by the fireside all night , listening to the storm that still raved without , and thanking God for both of the lives . Every few minutes a tip-toe excursion was made to the bedside , and now and then to the other room . Both the patients slept quietly . Towards morning Margaret opened her eyes , and faintly called her mother ; but soon fell asleep once more , and did not awake again till nearly noon . When sufficiently restored to be able to speak , the account she gave was , that she had set out to meet her father ; but the storm increasing , she had thought it more prudent to turn . It grew in violence , however , so rapidly , and beat so directly in her face , that she was soon exhausted with struggling , and benumbed with the cold . The last thing she remembered was , dropping , as she thought , into a hole , and feeling as if she were going to sleep in bed , yet knowing it was death ; and thinking how much sweeter it was than sleep .