midnight
The superstitious excitement which the looks and gestures of the old man expressed , touched Catherine 's imagination , and she entered the room with an inward shiver . Mary Backhouse lay raised high on her pillows , talking to herself or to imaginary other persons , with eyes wide open but vacant , and senses conscious of nothing but the dream-world in which the mind was wandering . Catherine sat softly down beside her , unnoticed , thankful for the chances of disease . If this delirium lasted till the ghost-hour -- the time of twilight , that is to say , which would begin about half-past eight , and the duration of which would depend on the cloudiness of the evening -- was over ; or , better still , till midnight were past ; the strain on the girl 's agonized senses might be relieved , and death come at last in softer , kinder guise . ` Has she been long like this ? ' she asked softly of the neighbor who sat quietly knitting by the evening light . The woman looked up and thought .