midnight
When she reappeared , it was with a snowy white dimity spread taken from her own bed , a pitcher of ice-water , and a large palm-leaf fan . When the bed was re-made , the self-appointed nurse seated herself by the bedside of the sick girl , promising to stay until the coming of the ambulance , and settling down to listen to all the details of the accident , which seemed to give the victim a grewsome satisfaction in rehearsing . When the ambulance arrived , and the patient departed , the nurse began to realize that it was three o'clock , and that she had had no food since seven . As the Bible-reading was at four , she had time only for a hastily swallowed cup of tea , and a slice of bread and butter , with a bit of cold meat , before the reading , after which she went home , bathed , rested , and supped , before presenting herself again at headquarters for the night duty , which called her to patrol the streets with a companion officer -LRB- a dull , rather coarse woman , who `` exhorted '' and sang through her nose -RRB- until after midnight . Then she went home and to bed , inwardly thanking Heaven for her happy day . She felt , as she would have said , that she had been `` awfu ' favored . '' `` Thanks to God , the meanest of his creatures Boasts two soul-sides -- one to face the world with , One to show a woman when he loves her . ''