midnight
`` Calm myself ! Yes , it is madness ; very , very madness ! ` tis the madness of the fascinated bird ; ` tis the madness of the murderer who is voluntarily broken on the wheel ; ` tis the madness of the fawn that gazes with adoration on the lurid glare of the anaconda 's eye ; ` tis the madness of woman who flies to the arms of her Fate ; '' and here she sprang like a tigress round Vivian 's neck , her long light hair bursting from its bands , and clustering down her shoulders . And here was Vivian Grey , at past midnight , in this old gallery , with this wild woman clinging round his neck . The figures in the ancient tapestry looked living in the moon , and immediately opposite him was one compartment of some old mythological tale , in which were represented , grinning , in grim majesty , the Fates . The wind now rose again , and the clouds which had vanished began to reassemble in the heavens . As the blue sky was gradually covering , the gigantic figures of Clotho , Lachesis , and Atropos became as gradually dimmer and dimmer , and the grasp of Vivian 's fearful burden looser and looser .