nearly
midnight
She had said something about Howden Clough . He had paid no particular attention to it then , as he fancied she was thinking of the place where he had quarrelled with Wilson ; but now he knew . He remembered going into his mother 's bedroom and looking into the wardrobe where she kept her dresses . He had noted that it was nearly midnight , and her bed had been untouched . He called to mind , too , how presently he had left the house , determined to find her ; how he had walked for hours in vain , not daring to make inquiries ; and then , when presently he had returned , he had found her in her bedroom , evidently under the stress of a great emotion . There was a look of unholy joy in her eyes , and she had uttered wild words . He could not understand them then , but he understood now .