midnight
She reached the bench where she had sat that afternoon . There was not a leaf that stirred . The nightingale 's song sounded away in the distance . The midnight peace lay like a shroud upon all things . But suddenly fear stabbed her , piercing every nerve to quivering activity . She knew -- how , she could not have said -- that she was no longer alone . She stood quite still , but the beating of her heart rose quick and insistent in her ears , like the beat of a drum .