4 o'clock
The thing would be more difficult ; but , nevertheless , if the sick man could once be got to say that Peter should be his heir she thought that she could keep him to his word . Lady Ushant and Mr. Masters went back to Dillsborough in Runciman 's fly , and it need hardly be said that the attorney said nothing of the business which had taken him to Bragton . This happened on a Wednesday , -- Wednesday the 3rd of March . On Friday morning , at 4 o'clock , during the darkness of the night , John Morton was lying dead on his bed , and the old woman was at his bedside . She had done her duty by him as far as she knew how in tending him , -- had been assiduous with the diligence of much younger years ; but now as she sat there , having had the fact absolutely announced to her by Dr. Nupper , her greatest agony arose from the feeling that the roof which covered her , probably the chair in which she sat , were the property of Reginald Morton -- `` Bastard ! '' she said to herself between her teeth ; but she so said it that neither Dr. Nupper , who was in the room , nor the woman who was with her should hear it . Dr. Nupper took the news into Dillsborough , and as the folk sat down to breakfast they all heard that the Squire of Bragton was dead .