midnight
The Countess was so old that her death could have surprised nobody , and her relatives had long looked upon her as being out of the world . A famous preacher delivered the funeral sermon . In simple and touching words he described the peaceful passing away of the righteous , who had passed long years in calm preparation for a Christian end . `` The angel of death found her , '' said the orator , `` engaged in pious meditation and waiting for the midnight bridegroom . '' The service concluded amidst profound silence . The relatives went forward first to take a farewell of the corpse . Then followed the numerous guests , who had come to render the last homage to her who for so many years had been a participator in their frivolous amusements .