ten o’clock
They were written from Hillside Rectory to the son in the army in Flanders , chiefly by his mother , and were full of hot , angry invective against our family , and pity for poor , foolish ` Madam , ' or ` Cousin Winslow , ' as she was generally termed , for having put herself in their power . The one most to the purpose was an account of the examination of Molly Cox , the waiting-woman , who had been in attendance on the unfortunate Margaret , and whose story tallied fairly with Aunt Peggy 's tradition . She declared that she was sure that her mistress had met with foul play . She had left her as usual at ten o'clock on the fatal 27th of December 1707 , in the inner one of the old chambers ; and in the night had heard the tipsy return home of the gentlemen , followed by shrieks . In the morning she -LRB- the maid -RRB- who usually was the first to go to her room , was met by Mistress Betty Winslow , and told that Madam was ill , and insensible . The old nurse of the Winslows was called in ; and Molly was never left alone in the sick-room , scarcely permitted to approach the bed , and never to touch her lady . Once , when emptying out a cup at the garden-door , she saw a mark of blood on the steps , but Mr. Philip came up and swore at her for a prying fool .