midnight
This might surely have at least changed her mood towards the wise woman ; but she only grumbled to herself that it was as it ought to be , ate up the food , and lay down on the bed , never thinking of fire , or dust , or water for the heather . The wind began to moan about the cottage , and grew louder and louder , till a great gust came down the chimney , and again scattered the white ashes all over the place . But the princess was by this time fast asleep , and never woke till the wind had sunk to silence . One of the consequences , however , of sleeping when one ought to be awake is waking when one ought to be asleep ; and the princess awoke in the black midnight , and found enough to keep her awake . For although the wind had fallen , there was a far more terrible howling than that of the wildest wind all about the cottage . Nor was the howling all ; the air was full of strange cries ; and everywhere she heard the noise of claws scratching against the house , which seemed all doors and windows , so crowded were the sounds , and from so many directions . All the night long she lay half swooning , yet listening to the hideous noises .