a quarter to twelve
and that she looked like a Bible witch , sitting up drinking and swearing and glaring in her nightclothes and nightcap . She was on a journey into Hungary , and claimed the hospitality of the castle on her way there . Both were widows . Well , it was a quarter to twelve . The Electress dropped back on her pillow , as she always did when she had finished the candle . Isentrude covered her over , heaped up logs on the fire , wrapped her dressing-gown about her , and prepared to sleep . It was Winter , and the wind howled at the doors , and rattled the windows , and shook the arras -- Lord help us !