three in the morning
So time went on , and the year was drawing to a close . It was Christmas Eve , and I had gone to bed shortly after twelve o'clock , having an hour earlier bid good night to John and Mr. Gaskell . The long habit of watching with , or being in charge of an invalid at night , had made my ears extraordinarily quick to apprehend even the slightest murmur . It must have been , I think , near three in the morning when I found myself awake and conscious of some unusual sound . It was low and far off , but I knew instantly what it was , and felt a choking sensation of fear and horror , as if an icy hand had gripped my throat , on recognising the air of the _ Gagliarda _ . It was being played on the violin , and a long way off , but I knew that tune too well to permit of my having any doubt on the subject . Any trouble or fear becomes , as you will some day learn , my dear nephew , immensely intensified and exaggerated at night .