midnight
She poured out the tea , therefore , without one word of sympathy . This would have seemed hard if her grandfather had expected any . He did not , however , because he did not know that the trouble showed in his face , and was trying to look as if nothing had happened . Yet in his brain were ringing and resounding the words , `` Within three weeks -- within three weeks , '' with the regularity of a horrid clock at midnight , when one wants to go to sleep . `` Oh , '' cried Iris , forced , as young people always are , to speak of her own trouble , `` oh , grandfather , he is coming to-night . '' `` Who is coming to-night , my dear ? '' and then he listened again for the ticking of the clock : `` Within three weeks -- within three weeks . ''