midnight
She uttered a faint scream of terror : he did not heed it ; he flung her from him , and as she fell upon the ground , the blood gushed in torrents from her lips . In the sudden change of feeling which alarm created , he raised her in his arms . She was a corpse ! At that instant the clock struck upon his ear with a startling and solemn sound : it was the half-hour after midnight . The grave is now closed upon that soft and erring heart , with its guiltiest secret unrevealed . She went to that last home with a blest and unblighted name ; for her guilt was unknown , and her virtues are yet recorded in the memories of the Poor . They laid her in the stately vaults of her ancient line , and her bier was honoured with tears from hearts not less stricken , because their sorrow , if violent , was brief .