midnight
She refused Keziah 's offer to remain on . Elizabeth-next-door , she said , was always at hand for emergencies . Keziah stayed late enough to see all arranged for the night , ending with a more or less successful effort to get old Maisie to swallow arrowroot . She helped Ruth to establish the Granny in her own high-backed chair beside her sister -- for neither would relinquish the other 's hand -- and took advantage of a very late return of Brantock , the carrier , to convey her home , where she arrived after midnight . All know the feeling that surely must have been that of at least one of the old sisters , that sleep ought to be for some mysterious reason combated , or nonsuited rather , when the mind is at odds with grave events . One rises rebellious against its power , when it steals a march on wakefulness , catching the keenest vigilance unawares . There was no reason why Granny Marrable should not sleep in her own arm-chair -- which she would say was every bit as good as bed , and used accordingly -- except that yielding meant surrender of the faculties to unconsciousness of a problem not yet understood , with the sickening prospect of finding it unanswered on awakening .