A. Roger Ekirch researched pre-industrial sleep patterns and identified that waking up after #firstsleep provided a good opportunity to interpret dreams. Here is it in Warner's 1929 novel, keeping in mind that Sukey is an orphan in rural England.

"That night, in her first sleep, Sukey dreamed that she was going with Mrs Disbrowe to see the Queen." #sylviatownsendwarner - The True Heart

What struck me was the mention of #firstsleep

The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps' For millennia, people slept in two shifts – once in the evening, and once in the morning. But why? And how did the habit disappear?

Woke up at 1am and started to feel panicked but then read this article about “The Watch” and decided I was just doing what’s natural. Stupid Industrial Revolution! 😂 time for second sleep now. #itsokay #naturalhistory #humananimal #nevermind #bbc
#thewatch #firstsleep www.bbc.com/future/artic...