five o'clock
A little before the hour of midnight , in the presence of his son , Hugh Mainwaring , Richard Hobson , the attorney , and Alexander McPherson , an old and trusted Scotch friend , Ralph Mainwaring caused to be drawn and executed a will , completely revoking and setting aside the process of law by which Harold Scott Mainwaring had been disinherited , and restoring to him his full rights as the elder son , McPherson and the attorney signing the will as witnesses . '' Miss Carleton 's eyes dilated and her breath came and went swiftly , but she spoke no word save a single , quick exclamation . `` James Wilson , the servant , was also present , but in an obscure corner , and his presence seems to have been unnoticed . The next morning , at five o'clock , Ralph Mainwaring passed away , happy in the thought that he had at last made reparation for his injustice to his elder son . Within two months the old Scotchman died , and Richard Hobson was then the sole surviving witness of the last will and testament of Ralph Maxwell Mainwaring . `` This was all the direct information I could obtain from Wilson , but from other sources I learned that Hugh Mainwaring was never the same after his father 's death . He grew stern and taciturn , and would allow no mention of his brother 's name , and within two years he had disposed of the estate and left England forever ; while a few years later tidings were received of the death of Harold Scott Mainwaring at sea .