midnight
To die alone -- unsoothed -- unnoticed ; with no kind hands about you ! To die -- without one farewell word ! '' He hid his face in his hands , and Salome staggered to the bed , and grasped Miss Jane 's rigid , icy fingers . In the silence of midnight , Death stole her spirit from its clay garments , and while she slept peacefully had borne her beyond the confines of Time , and left her resting forever in the City Celestial . A life dedicated to pure aims and charitable deeds had been rewarded with a death as painless as the slumber of a tired child on its mother 's bosom , and , without struggle or premonition , the soul had slipped from the bondage of flesh into the Everlasting Peace that remaineth for the children of God . It was impossible to decide at what hour she had died ; and when the members of the appalled household were questioned , Muriel and Miss Dexter stated that she had kissed them good night and appeared as well as usual at her customary time of retiring ; and Rachel testified that after she was in bed , she rang her bell and directed her to tell the cook that as Dr. Grey would probably come home about daylight , she must get up early and have a cup of coffee ready when he arrived . Sobbing passionately , Rachel added , -- `` When I asked her if I should put out the lamp , she said , ` No ; Ulpian may lose his patient , and come home sad , and then he will come in and talk to me awhile . '