midnight
All things were made new to her ; above all , her own self . She was acting in a way which was no result of balanced purpose , yet , as she perfectly understood , involved her in the gravest responsibilities . She had no longer the excuse which palliated her conduct eight years ago ; that heedlessness was innocent indeed compared with the blame she would now incur , if she excited a vain hope merely to prove her feelings , to read another chapter of life . Solemnly in this charmed stillness of midnight , she searched her heart . It did not fail under question . A morning sleep held her so much later than usual that , before she had left her chamber , letters were brought to the door by the child who waited upon her . On one envelope she saw the Doctor 's handwriting ; on the other that of her cousin , Mrs. Florio .