about midnight
With the sad remembrances thus awakened , her tears flowed faster ; and in the fulness of her heart she scratched the same sign in the earth round the grave -- it would be a fence that would decorate it so well . And just as she was forming , with both of her hands , the figure of the cross , her magic disguise fell off like a torn glove ; and when she had washed herself in the clear water of the fountain near , and in amazement looked at her delicate white hands , she made the sign of the cross between herself and the dead priest ; then her lips moved , then her tongue was loosened ; and that name which so often , during the ride through the forest , she had heard spoken and chanted , became audible from her mouth -- she exclaimed , When the frog 's skin had fallen off she was again the beautiful maiden ; but her head drooped heavily , her limbs seemed to need repose -- she slept . Her sleep was only a short one , however ; she awoke about midnight , and before her stood the dead horse full of life ; its eyes glittered , and light seemed to proceed from the wound in its neck . Close to it the dead Christian priest showed himself -- `` more beautiful than Baldur , '' the Viking 's wife would have said ; and yet he came as a flash of fire . There was an earnestness in his large , mild eyes , a searching , penetrating look -- grave , almost stern -- that thrilled the young proselyte to the utmost depths of her heart . Helga trembled before him ; and her memory awoke as if with the power it would exercise on the great day of doom .