midnight
Lilian changed her dress for a comfortable wrapper , kissed her mother 's forehead and pressed the cold hands . She did not stir ; but then she had lain this way for hours at a time . The girl drew up her cot to the side of her mother 's bed and laid down . The clocks all about were striking midnight . It had not been so tranquil at Crawford House . Dinner had been rather quiet ; no one seemingly to want to talk at any length . Afterward , Major Crawford had said -- `` Let us all go up to mother 's room .