about one
o'clock
and guessing , with an apparently assumed air of jocularity , that their father -LRB- they had informed him of his death -RRB- had left them a good round sum in some corner or other ? In short , his behaviour altogether began again to grow extremely suspicious ; and , perceiving this , the sisters ' fears returned with all their original force . In the meantime , the storm without , so far from abating , had increased ; the dreary , rushing sound of the trees became fiercer and louder , and the fitful gusts of wind more frequent and furious . It was now about one o'clock of the morning , when , actuated by the same motives which had induced them to ask their terrible guest to sit by the fire -- namely , to disarm him , by kindness , of any evil design he might entertain towards them -- the sisters now offered the soldier some refreshment . He gladly accepted the offer . Food was placed before him , and he ate heartily . When he had done , one of the sisters told him that there was a spare bed in a closet to which she pointed , and that he might go to it if he chose .