midnight
Having sat in darkness for some hours , during all which time Annette did not appear , she began to have serious apprehensions for her ; but , not daring to venture down into the castle , was compelled to remain in uncertainty , as to the cause of this unusual absence . Emily often stole to the staircase door to listen if any step approached , but still no sound alarmed her : determining , however , to watch , during the night , she once more rested on her dark and desolate couch , and bathed the pillow with innocent tears . She thought of her deceased parents and then of the absent Valancourt , and frequently called upon their names ; for the profound stillness , that now reigned , was propitious to the musing sorrow of her mind . While she thus remained , her ear suddenly caught the notes of distant music , to which she listened attentively , and , soon perceiving this to be the instrument she had formerly heard at midnight , she rose , and stepped softly to the casement , to which the sounds appeared to come from a lower room . In a few moments , their soft melody was accompanied by a voice so full of pathos , that it evidently sang not of imaginary sorrows . Its sweet and peculiar tones she thought she had somewhere heard before ; yet , if this was not fancy , it was , at most , a very faint recollection . It stole over her mind , amidst the anguish of her present suffering , like a celestial strain , soothing , and reassuring her ; -- `` Pleasant as the gale of spring , that sighs on the hunter 's ear , when he awakens from dreams of joy , and has heard the music of the spirits of the hill . ''