twelve
o'clock
John even amused himself now at times by having Mr. Baker into his rooms of a morning , that the management of the estate might be discussed with his friend ; and he also expressed his wish to see the family solicitor , as he desired to draw his will . Thinking that any diversion of this nature could not but be beneficial to him , we sent to Dorchester for our solicitor , Mr. Jeffreys , who together with his clerk spent three nights at Worth , and drew up a testament for my brother . So time went on , and the year was drawing to a close . It was Christmas Eve , and I had gone to bed shortly after twelve o'clock , having an hour earlier bid good night to John and Mr. Gaskell . The long habit of watching with , or being in charge of an invalid at night , had made my ears extraordinarily quick to apprehend even the slightest murmur . It must have been , I think , near three in the morning when I found myself awake and conscious of some unusual sound . It was low and far off , but I knew instantly what it was , and felt a choking sensation of fear and horror , as if an icy hand had gripped my throat , on recognising the air of the _ Gagliarda _ .