midnight
`` I fell into a doze at last , and had , as I thought , a decidedly bad dream -- for I felt certain that I was dreaming , and that what I witnessed was the sport of my fancy . What I saw , or seemed to see , was this : the door opened slowly -- a head was thrust in , and remained motionless for an instant ; then the head moved , a body followed ; madam , the lady of the dark eyes , glided stealthily toward my cot . It was enough to make one shudder , Surry , to have seen the stealthy movement of that phantom . I gazed at it through my half-closed eyelids -- saw the midnight eyes burning in the white face half covered by a shawl thrown over the head -- and , under that covering , the right hand of the phantom grasped something which I could not make out . `` In three quick steps _ it _ was beside me . I say _ it _ , for the figure resembled that of a ghost , or some horrible _ thing _ . From the eyes two flames seemed to dart , the lips opened , and I heard , in a low mutter : -- ``` Ah !