midnight
As she sat with her eyes fixed on the hearth , she thought she perceived there a spark of light ; it twinkled and disappeared , and then again was visible . At length , with much care , she fanned the embers of a wood fire , that had been lighted in the morning , into flame , and , having communicated it to a lamp , which always stood in her room , felt a satisfaction not to be conceived , without a review of her situation . Her first care was to guard the door of the staircase , for which purpose she placed against it all the furniture she could move , and she was thus employed , for some time , at the end of which she had another instance how much more oppressive misfortune is to the idle , than to the busy ; for , having then leisure to think over all the circumstances of her present afflictions , she imagined a thousand evils for futurity , and these real and ideal subjects of distress alike wounded her mind . Thus heavily moved the hours till midnight , when she counted the sullen notes of the great clock , as they rolled along the rampart , unmingled with any sound , except the distant foot-fall of a sentinel , who came to relieve guard . She now thought she might venture towards the turret , and , having gently opened the chamber door to examine the corridor , and to listen if any person was stirring in the castle , found all around in perfect stillness . Yet no sooner had she left the room , than she perceived a light flash on the walls of the corridor , and , without waiting to see by whom it was carried , she shrunk back , and closed her door . No one approaching , she conjectured , that it was Montoni going to pay his midnight visit to her unknown neighbour , and she determined to wait , till he should have retired to his own apartment .