midnight
He spent the evening in Elsie 's sick chamber as he had passed the day . Elsie did not sleep , but she was glad to lie quiet and keep her eyes closed , shutting out the objects around her . Sometimes when her reflections became too painful to bear , she would start up , catch his hands and shriek his name wildly , but his voice always served to calm her . Towards midnight she fell into a heavy slumber . More than an hour before he heard Victoria enter the next room , and knew that he could leave Elsie in safety . He bent over the bed , kissed her white forehead , and stole softly out of the room . He went down into the library and sat there drearily , starting at the least sound , almost with a belief that he should stand face to face once more with his wife who might yet return on some possible pretence .