about
eleven o’clock at night
It was already so late in the day , that though thus summoned , there was no chance of Lord Martindale 's arriving till the following evening ; and Violet 's heart sank at reckoning up the space that must elapse , more especially when she saw the perturbed eye , the startings at each sound , the determination to know the business of every one who came to speak to her -- evident indications that there was some anxiety on his mind which she could not comprehend . Thus passed the day -- between visits from desponding doctors and vain measures for reducing the inflammation . At night Mr. Harding would have prevailed on her to go to rest , promising to keep watch in her stead ; but she only shook her head , and said she could not . She had not seen , and had scarcely thought of , the elder children all day ; but at about eleven o'clock at night she was startled by a sound of lamentable crying , -- Johnnie 's voice in the nursery . The poor little boy 's nerves had been so much shaken by the fire at Martindale , that he had become subject to night alarms , which sometimes showed their effect for the whole subsequent day ; and his mother stole away on hearing his cry , leaving Arthur in Mr. Harding 's charge , and hoping not to be missed . Sarah was standing over Johnnie , half-coaxing , half-scolding while he sat up in his little crib , shivering and sobbing , with chattering teeth , and terrified exclamations about papa all over blood , lying dead under the burning windows . ` There now , you have brought your poor mamma up ! '