midnight
But she was calm now , as she felt that she had never been in her life . Her breath came evenly , her heart beat naturally , she thought connectedly of what she was about to do . But the time seemed endless . The distant clocks chimed the half hour , three-quarters , past midnight . Still she waited . At the stroke of one she rose from her seat , and standing beside Beatrice laid her hand upon the dark brow . A few questions , a few answers followed .