midnight
Come , I will assist you to your room . '' And the two men passed out together . In later days Christian Vellacott could bring back to his memory no distinct recollection of that first night spent in the monastery . There was an indefinite remembrance of the steady , monotonous clang of a bell in the first hours , doubtless the tolling of the matins , calling the elect to prayer at midnight . After that he must have fallen into a deep , lethargic sleep , for he never heard the distant strains of the organ and the melodious chanting of gruff voices . The strange , unquiet melody hovered over him in the little cell , following him as he glided away from earth upon the blessed wings of sleep , and haunted his restless dreams . The monks were early astir next morning , for the sweet smell of drying hay filled the air , and the second crop of the fruitful earth lay waiting to be stacked .