quarter before four
Her fatigue of the night before , and her unnatural excitement , had worn her out at last . She did fall asleep ; she fell into a heavy slumber that was almost like stupor . She had taken a few drops out of the opium bottle in a glass of water before lying down . The clock over the mantelpiece chimed the quarter before four as she woke suddenly and started up , with the cold perspiration breaking out in icy drops upon her forehead . She had dreamt that every member of the household was clamoring at the door , eager to tell her of a dreadful fire that had happened in the night . There was no sound but the flapping of the ivy-leaves against the glass , the occasional falling of a cinder , and the steady ticking of the clock . `` Perhaps I shall be always dreaming these sort of dreams , '' my lady thought , `` until the terror of them kills me ! ''