midnight
She was white , even to her lips ; and with a mournful shake of her head , she motioned to the girls to leave her alone . She put the paper out of her hand , and stood regarding it . Fully ten minutes elapsed ere she gathered strength sufficient to break its well-known seal , and take in the full meaning of words so full of agony to her . `` It is midnight , beloved Katherine , and in six hours I may be dead . Lord Paget spoke of my cousin to me in such terms as leaves but one way out of the affront . I pray you , if you can , to pardon me . The world will condemn me , my own actions will condemn me ; and yet I vow that you , and you only , have ever had my love .