midnight
How lonely and desolate it seemed there , now that she was absent ! Those mountain landscapes , glowing with the white radiance of mimic sunshine , still made perpetual summer ; yet there seemed to be a wintry chill and death-like atmosphere which struck to the heart , and made me shiver with cold . The day dragged slowly to its close , and no rest came to the sufferer , nor sign of improvement to relieve our anxiety . Until past midnight I remained at my post , then retired for three or four miserable , anxious hours , only to return once more when it was scarcely light . Chastel 's condition was still unchanged , or , if there had been any change , it was for the worse , for she had not slept . Again I remained , a prey to desponding thoughts , all day in the room ; but towards evening Yoletta came to take me to her mother . The summons so terrified me that for some moments I sat trembling and unable to articulate a word ; for I could not but think that Chastel 's end was approaching .