one o'clock
An easy-chair was turned with its back to the fire , and on it a dressing-gown , and before it lay a pair of soft , warm slippers . The restless , joyous , anxious mother was reading over , for the twentieth time , her son 's last letter , in which he promised to be home , punctually , on that evening . Hours flew on , but he did not come . At length , one o'clock struck , and startled the widow from her meditative posture . `` I must go to bed -- I must not look pale with watching , to-morrow , and alarm my good son . It is just as it was before -- he can not get across the river to-night . I shall see him early to-morrow . ''