midnight
The Death of the year overhung the Death of man . And as Philip bent over the tomb , within and without all was ICE and NIGHT ! For hours he remained on that spot , alone with his grief and absorbed in his prayer . Long past midnight Fanny heard his step on the stairs , and the door of his chamber close with unwonted violence . She heard , too , for some time , his heavy tread on the floor , till suddenly all was silent . The next morning , when , at the usual hour , Sarah entered to unclose the shutters and light the fire , she was startled by wild exclamations and wilder laughter . The fever had mounted to the brain -- he was delirious .