two
o'clock in the morning
He hoped his wife would come and rouse him from this fearful semblance of a dream , and , wishing this , he found himself standing at her side , amidst the throng downstairs , who were now merrily saying good-bye . Brenton tried to speak to his wife , but although he was conscious of speaking , she did not seem to hear him , or know he was there . -LSB- Illustration : He again sat in the rocking-chair . -RSB- The party had been one given on Christmas Eve , and as it was now two o'clock in the morning , the departing guests were wishing Mrs. Brenton a merry Christmas . Finally , the door closed on the last of the revellers , and Mrs. Brenton stood for a moment giving instructions to the sleepy servants ; then , with a tired sigh , she turned and went upstairs , Brenton walking by her side until they came to the darkened room , which she entered on tiptoe . `` Now , '' said Brenton to himself , `` she will arouse me from this appalling dream . '' It was not that there was anything dreadful in the dream itself , but the clearness with which he saw everything , and the fact that his mind was perfectly wide awake , gave him an uneasiness which he found impossible to shake off .