nearly one o'clock in
the morning
His departure was fixed for the next day but one . One of their sad meals had just come to an end . When they finished their supper , during which they had not spoken a word , Christophe withdrew to his room ; and sitting at his desk , with his head in his hands -- he was incapable of working -- he became lost in thought . The night was drawing late : it was nearly one o'clock in the morning . Suddenly he heard a noise , a chair upset in the next room . The door opened and his mother appeared in her nightgown , barefooted , and threw her arms round his neck and sobbed . She was feverish .