A quarter to one
So Pauline was allowed to hurry on the evening toilet . The soft pretty hair , not so abundant as it used to be , was carefully brushed ; the night-lamp was lighted ; and Pauline left her mistress sitting by her dressing-table in her flowing white raiment , pale , graceful , subdued in colouring , like a classic figure in a faded fresco . She sat with fixed eyes , deep in thought , for some time after Pauline had left her , then looked uneasily at the little gem of a watch dangling on its ormolu and jasper stand . A quarter to one . Violet must have gone to bed hours ago ; unless , indeed , Violet were like her mother , too unhappy to be able to sleep . Mrs. Tempest was seized with a sudden desire to see her daughter . `` How unkind of her never to come near me to say good-night , on this night of all others ! ''