midnight
We hate you almost as much as we do her . None of us shall close our eyes to-night until Jessie Bain has been found ; and if she lies dead under the snow-drifts , we will form a little band that will avenge her ! If Jessie Bain has died from exposure to the terrible storm , Rosamond Lee , who caused it all , shall suffer for it ! If she is not here by midnight -- hark you , Janet ! bear this message from us to your mistress , the haughty , heartless heiress -- '' But what that message was , Janet whispered in her mistress 's ear . We must return to Jessie Bain . The girl had scarcely proceeded a block through the blinding snow-drifts ere she began to grow chill and numb .