ten o'clock
He kept on with his restless walk -- not speaking any more , but drawing a deep breath from time to time , as if endeavouring to throw off some annoying thought . Fanny asked her mother numerous small questions , all having nothing to do with the subject , which a wiser person would have perceived was occupying her attention . Consequently , she received many short answers . She was not sorry when , at ten o'clock , the servants filed in to prayers . These her mother always read , -- first reading a chapter . They were now working steadily through the Old Testament . When prayers were ended , and his mother had wished him goodnight , with that long steady look of hers which conveyed no expression of the tenderness that was in her heart , but yet had the intensity of a blessing , Mr. Thornton continued his walk .