midnight
He was not in the slightest degree cast down , however ; he made another voyage to Greenland as mate , and having been very successful , came home and married young Bertha Eswick , to whom he had before sailing engaged himself . Bertha Morton , like the rest of her countrywomen , accepted her lot , and notwithstanding the fate to which so many others were subjected , she hoped to enjoy years of happiness with her brave , fine-hearted husband . There was not in all Scotland , just then , a blither or happier woman than Bertha Morton . Her husband had told her that he expected to be at home soon after midnight , and she was sitting up to receive him . As the fury of the storm had not broke till some time after she hoped her husband would be safe on shore , she was not particularly anxious about his safety ; still , as time wore on , her keen ear became more and more alive to approaching sounds : at length she heard footsteps . Her husband 's voice called to her , and in he rushed with her mother and Nanny Clousta , followed by Don Hernan and Hilda . Her astonishment at seeing them was very great , but without losing time in asking unnecessary questions , she set to work to remedy , as far as she had the power , the effects of the pelting rain to which her guests had been exposed .