three o'clock in the morning
Learning nothing , however , and yet finding that , as he advanced towards health , his dejection plainly deepened , he began at length to fear softening of the brain , but could discover no other symptom of such disease . The earnestness of the doctor 's quest after a cause for what anyone might observe , added greatly to Helen 's uneasiness ; and besides , the fact itself began to undermine the hope of his innocence which had again sprung up and almost grown to assurance in the absence of any fresh contradiction from without . Also , as his health returned , his sleep became more troubled ; he dreamed more , and showed by his increased agitation in his dreams that they were more painful . In this respect his condition was at the worst always between two and three o'clock in the morning ; and having perceived this fact , Helen would never allow anyone except herself to sit up with him the first part of the night . Increased anxiety and continued watching soon told upon her health yet more severely , and she lost appetite and complexion . Still she slept well during the latter part of the morning , and it was in vain that aunt and doctor and nurse all expostulated with her upon the excess of her ministration : nothing should make her yield the post until her brother was himself again . Nor was she without her reward , and that a sufficing one -- in the love and gratitude with which Leopold clung to her .