midnight
And Mary , too , was sleeping , her face now laid against her father 's , and her arms still about his neck . The sight touched even the doctor 's heart and moistened his eyes . For nearly half an hour he remained ; and then , as Morgan continued to sleep , he left medicine to be given immediately , and went home , promising to call early in the morning . It is now past midnight , and we leave the lonely , sad-hearted watcher with her sick ones . I was sitting , with a newspaper in my hand -- not reading , but musing -- at the `` Sickle and Sheaf , '' late in the evening marked by the incidents just detailed . `` Where 's your mother ? '' I heard Simon Slade inquire .