about three in the morning
By that time the sounds of the tempest had become a lullaby to me . I knew that the grey walls of the old house would buffet it out , and for what occurred in the world outside I had small concern . Old Madge was usually as callous to such things as I was myself . It was a surprise to me when , about three in the morning , I was awoke by the sound of a great knocking at my door and excited cries in the wheezy voice of my house-keeper . I sprang out of my hammock , and roughly demanded of her what was the matter . `` Eh , maister , maister ! '' she screamed in her hateful dialect .