midnight
Oh , break your word for once -- kiss me , my husband ! '' So while she knelt to him thus , he kissed her until she sighed and stirred in his embrace . Then she rose and hand in hand they crossed the room and he opened the door ; for a blissful moment they stood there silent in the shadows , but when he would have kissed her again she laughed at him through her tears and fled from him up the wide stairway . A clock in the hall without struck midnight , but Ravenslee sat on long after the silvery chime had died away , his chin sunk on broad chest , his eyes staring blindly at the fading embers , lost in profound but joyful meditation ; once he turned to look where she had stood beside the mantel , and once he reached out to touch the thrice-blessed chair that had held her . The curtains stirred and rustled at the open window behind him , but he sat looking into the flickering fire , seeing there pictures of the future , and the future was full of a happiness beyond words , for in every picture Hermione moved . All at once he started and glanced swiftly around , his lounging attitude changing to one of watchful alertness , for he had heard a sound that drew rapidly nearer -- the hiss and pant of breath drawn in quick gasps . Silently he arose and turned to see the curtains swing apart and a shapeless something stagger forward and fall heavily .