midnight
`` Brown , that is , sometimes . Blue are lovely . '' Jo laughed , and Meg sharply ordered her not to talk , then amiably promised to make her hair curl , and fell asleep to dream of living in her castle in the air . The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed , smoothing a coverlet here , settling a pillow there , and pausing to look long and tenderly at each unconscious face , to kiss each with lips that mutely blessed , and to pray the fervent prayers which only mothers utter . As she lifted the curtain to look out into the dreary night , the moon broke suddenly from behind the clouds and shone upon her like a bright , benignant face , which seemed to whisper in the silence , `` Be comforted , dear soul ! There is always light behind the clouds . '' In the cold gray dawn the sisters lit their lamp and read their chapter with an earnestness never felt before .