midnight
Of the latter he talked incessantly , and vowed that she , at least , should love him . As the weary days crept by Beulah started at every sound , fancying that the wife had certainly come ; but hour after hour found only Mrs. Williams and the orphan guarding the deserted husband . Gradually the fever abated , and a death-like stupor succeeded . Mr. Graham stole about the house like a haunting spirit , miserable and useless , and in the solemn stillness of midnight only Beulah sat by the pillow , where a head now rested motionless as that of a corpse . Mrs. Williams was asleep on a couch at the opposite end of the room , and , in the dim , spectral light of the shaded lamp , the watcher and her charge looked unearthly . Faint from constant vigils , Beulah threw her arm on the bed and leaned her head upon it , keeping her eyes on the colorless face before her . Who that has watched over friends , hovering upon the borders of the spiritland , needs to be told how dreary was the heart of the solitary nurse ?