midnight
But what shook it most of all was anxiety about her mother . Ever since the bailiff 's intrusion Mrs. Iden had seemed so unsettled . Sometimes she would come downstairs after the rest had retired , and sit by the dying fire for hours alone , till Iden chanced to wake , and go down for her . Once she went out of doors very late , leaving the front door wide open , and Amaryllis found her at midnight wandering in an aimless way among the ricks . At such times she had a glazed look in her eyes , and did not seem to see what she gazed at . At others she would begin to cry without cause , and gave indications of hysteria . The nervous Flamma family were liable to certain affections of that kind , and Amaryllis feared lest her mother 's system had been overstrained by these continual worries .