About midnight
It was quite late that night before Jerome was at liberty to creep off to his own bed up in the slanting back chamber . Paulina Maria and Belinda Lamb had gone home , and the bereaved family were all alone in the house . Jerome 's boyish heart ached hard , but he was worn out physically , and he soon fell asleep . About midnight he awoke with a startling sound in his ears . He sat up in bed and listened , straining ears and eyes in the darkness . Out of the night gloom and stillness below came his mother 's voice , raised loud and hoarse in half-accusatory prayer , not caring who heard , save the Lord . `` What hast thou done , O Lord ? ''