midnight
Lonely and nervous , she slipped into a white dressing-gown , and sat down by the window to watch the full moon sailing above the purple peaks of the mountain range , and listening in a sort of terror for the monk 's cough ; but the excitement of the day induced speedy sleep . How long she rested there in the moonlight , sleeping heavily , like a weary child tired of playing , she could not tell , only that suddenly she started wide awake in terror , feeling as if a cold , icy hand had pressed her warm bosom , turning her cold as death . Springing to her feet , she found she was not alone , for in the broad glare of the moonlight she saw by her side the tall form of a man gowned in a long black robe girdled with a rosary of beads , while his close-shaven face shone ghastly white under his black skull-cap , and the dull , fixed eyes had the awful stare of death . With a piercing cry , Dainty sprang past the midnight visitant , rushed to the door , and throwing it open , bounded into the corridor , flying with terror-winged feet toward her cousin 's room . Then she pounded on the door , shrieking , piteously : `` For God 's sake , let me in ! '' The door opened so quickly that Dainty , leaning against it , lost her balance , and fell blindly forward into the arms of the man who had opened it -- Lovelace Ellsworth , who had not yet retired , because his heart and mind were so full of her he knew he could not sleep . `` Ah , sweet , thou little knowest how I wake and passionate watches keep ; And yet while I address thee now , Methinks thou smilest in thy sleep .