midnight
` There will be no such hero . ' ` Oh , yes , there will ! Every story , however humble , has its hero ; but yours is going to be a very magnificent personage , I hope . ' The little clock on the chimney-piece chimed the half-hour after midnight , whereupon Aunt Betsy started up and called for her candle . She and Ida kissed as they wished each other good night on the threshold of the elder lady 's room . After this conversation , how could Ida ever again broach the subject of departure ? and yet she felt that sooner or later she must depart .