seven o'clock
She tossed about in misery , every now and then rising on her knees to pray -- at first for Charles 's safety -- for she shrank from asking for Divine protection , knowing only too well what that would be . Gradually , however , a shudder came over her at the thought that if she would not commit her way unto the Lord , she might indeed be the undoing of her lover , and then once more the higher sense of duty rose on her . She prayed for forgiveness for the thought , and that it might not be visited upon him ; she prayed for strength to do what must be her duty , for safety for him , and comfort to his parents , and so , in passing gusts of misery and apprehension , of failing heart and recovered resolution , of anguish and of prayer , the long night at length passed , and with the first dawn she arose , shaken and weak , but resolved to act on her terrible resolution before it again failed her . Sir Philip was always an early riser , and she heard his foot on the stairs before seven o'clock . She came out on the staircase , which met the flight which he was descending , and tried to speak , but her lips seemed too dry to part . `` Child ! child !