about midnight
with lips so parched they could hardly shape the word . All day Jo and Meg hovered over her , watching , waiting , hoping , and trusting in God and Mother , and all day the snow fell , the bitter wind raged , and the hours dragged slowly by . But night came at last , and every time the clock struck , the sisters , still sitting on either side of the bed , looked at each other with brightening eyes , for each hour brought help nearer . The doctor had been in to say that some change , for better or worse , would probably take place about midnight , at which time he would return . Hannah , quite worn out , lay down on the sofa at the bed 's foot and fell fast asleep , Mr. Laurence marched to and fro in the parlor , feeling that he would rather face a rebel battery than Mrs. March 's countenance as she entered . Laurie lay on the rug , pretending to rest , but staring into the fire with the thoughtful look which made his black eyes beautifully soft and clear . The girls never forgot that night , for no sleep came to them as they kept their watch , with that dreadful sense of powerlessness which comes to us in hours like those .