midnight
She however , who was more nimble and better acquainted with the mazes of the garden , was soon a great way ahead ; she was now at the open verge of the grounds ; this she also stepped over , and ran across the fallow field , like a hunted deer , while alternately the rain drenched her , and the storm chilled her delicate limbs . * * * * * Madame von Halden was sitting comfortably in her little parlour , while the storm shook the trees out of doors , and the rain pattered against the windows . Her heart was perfectly at ease ; for she had sold her estate at an unexpectedly high price , all was concluded , and Count Brandenstein with counsellor Alfred had that very evening brought every thing into due form . The two gentlemen were upstairs asleep , for it was near midnight , and she was herself on the point of retiring to her chamber , when she was alarmed by a violent loud knocking at the house door , and a plaintive suppliant voice . She rang the bell , a servant was sent to open the door , and with her clothes dripping , trembling and pale as death , Dorothea rushed in , threw herself immediately with violence upon her bosom , and cried with a hoarse voice , `` Save me , save me ! '' `` For God 's sake ! '' said her friend in extreme terror , `` is it you , my dear girl ?