midnight
They never had been separated . His mistress had never been out of his mind all that time . No , not once . No , not in the prison ; nor in the camp ; nor on shore before the enemy ; nor at sea under the stars of solemn midnight ; nor as he watched the glorious rising of the dawn : not even at the table , where he sat carousing with friends , or at the theatre yonder , where he tried to fancy that other eyes were brighter than hers . Brighter eyes there might be , and faces more beautiful , but none so dear -- no voice so sweet as that of his beloved mistress , who had been sister , mother , goddess to him during his youth -- goddess now no more , for he knew of her weaknesses ; and by thought , by suffering , and that experience it brings , was older now than she ; but more fondly cherished as woman perhaps than ever she had been adored as divinity . What is it ? Where lies it ?