nine o'clock
And now I think it right to pay Lady Ellinor the respect of repairing , as well as I can , the havoc three sleepless nights have made on the exterior of a gentleman who is on the shady side of remorseless forty . '' Lord Castleton here left me , and I wrote to my father , begging him to meet us at the next stage -LRB- which was the nearest point from the high road to the Tower -RRB- , and I sent off the letter by a messenger on horseback . That task done , I leaned my head upon my hand , and a profound sadness settled upon me , despite all my efforts to face the future and think only of the duties of life -- not its sorrows . Before nine o'clock Lady Ellinor arrived , and went straight into Miss Trevanion 's room ; I took refuge in my uncle 's . Roland was awake and calm , but so feeble that he made no effort to rise ; and it was his calm , indeed , that alarmed me the most , -- it was like the calm of nature thoroughly exhausted . He obeyed me mechanically , as a patient takes from your hand the draught , of which he is almost unconscious , when I pressed him to take food . He smiled on me faintly when I spoke to him , but made me a sign that seemed to implore silence .