About one o'clock
The first explanation past , even Selina ceased talking ; and they sat together , the three women , doing nothing , attempting to do nothing , only listening ; thinking every sound was a step on the pavement or a knock at the door . Alas ! what would they not have given for the fiercest knock , the most impatient , angry footstep , if only it had been their boy 's ? About one o'clock , Selina had to be put to bed in strong hysterics . She had lashed her nephew with her bitter tongue till he had rushed out of the house , declaring that none of them should ever see his face again . Now she reproached herself as being the cause of all , and fell into an agony of remorse , which engrossed her sisters ' whole care ; until her violent emotion having worn itself out , she went to sleep , the only one who did sleep in that miserable family . For Elizabeth also , having been sent to bed hours before , was found by Miss Hilary sitting on the kitchen stairs , about four in the morning .