midnight
Then the old man sent them all to bed . He alone would watch the little spark go out . And Bud alone in the yard saw it all . He knew he should go home -- that it was now past midnight , but somehow he felt that the Bishop might need him . He saw the moon go down , and the big constellations shine out clearer . Now and then he could see the old nurse reach over and put his ear to the child 's mouth to see if it yet breathed . But Bud thought maybe he was listening for it to speak , for he could see the old man 's lips moving as he did when he prayed at church .