midnight
But this last did not produce as much effect as she expected . Josefina unconsciously longed for death which would release her from such a martyrdom . For a more efficacious cure of fear , Concha and she invented a fearful practical joke which would have been enough to terrify a brave man , much less a child six years old . They both dressed themselves up in sheets , left the room partially lighted whilst the child slept , put on masks like skulls , and at midnight they came in uttering fearful cries like souls from another world . When the little creature awoke and saw those apparitions , she was paralysed with terror , then she clapped her hands to her eyes and her whole body was bathed in a cold perspiration . Her heart beat so violently that it could be heard at a distance , she gave vent to a few hoarse , terrified cries , and finally , putting her hands to her breast , she fell senseless to the ground , a prey to fearful convulsions . Her timidity was incurable ; and , moreover , she was henceforth subject to faintings and to nocturnal frights .