midnight
From this time forth three-hour watches were instituted , and day and night the watchers kept their vigils . By degrees Laura and her mother began to show wear , but neither of them would yield a minute of their tasks to Clay . He ventured once to let the midnight hour pass without calling Laura , but he ventured no more ; there was that about her rebuke when he tried to explain , that taught him that to let her sleep when she might be ministering to her father 's needs , was to rob her of moments that were priceless in her eyes ; he perceived that she regarded it as a privilege to watch , not a burden . And , he had noticed , also , that when midnight struck , the patient turned his eyes toward the door , with an expectancy in them which presently grew into a longing but brightened into contentment as soon as the door opened and Laura appeared . And he did not need Laura 's rebuke when he heard his father say : `` Clay is good , and you are tired , poor child ; but I wanted you so . '' `` Clay is not good , father -- he did not call me . I would not have treated him so .