midnight
She busied herself awhile about her boudoir and bed-room , selecting a few articles of jewelry and so on to be packed , then sat down and read awhile ; tired of that , she turned down the lights in the alabaster lily cups , which one of the statues held , sat down in the faint moonshine , with which she had thus flooded the room , and fell into a train of restless thought ; a pale gleam darted up now and then from the lilies , and trembled through the floss-like curls under which she had thrust her hand , revealing a face more earnest and thoughtful than was usual to the gay young creature . Whether it was that she had become anxious from the dart of suspicion that had been that day cast at her brother 's wife , or was disturbed by some other cause I can not say , but her eyes shone bright and clear in the pale radiance that surrounded her ; now and then she would start up and listen at Elizabeth 's door , as if about to enter and question her of the things that evidently troubled her mind . At last she fell into quiet , and lying on the couch , scarcely seemed to breathe . It was almost midnight then . The house was still , and she could hear the distant waves beating against the shore . She closed her eyes and listened dreamily , reluctant to seek any other place of rest , yet changing the azure cushions of her couch impatiently from time to time . At last , as she half rose for this purpose , a noise from the outer room , which was a square passage or hall , in which were placed some bronze statues and antique shields , arrested her attention .