about midnight
But it was too late now for that . He had failed in everything as far as England was concerned , and it was chiefly by her fault that he had failed . He would consent to leave her ; -- but , as he thought of it in his solitude , his eyes became moist with regret . In these days Mr. Wharton never came home till about midnight , and then passed rapidly through the hall to his own room , -- and in the morning had his breakfast brought to him in the same room , so that he might not even see his son-in-law . His daughter would go to him when at breakfast , and there , together for some half-hour , they would endeavour to look forward to their future fate . But hitherto they had never been able to look forward in accord , as she still persisted in declaring that if her husband bade her to go with him , -- she would go . On this night Lopez sat up in the dining-room , and as soon as he heard Mr. Wharton 's key in the door , he placed himself in the hall .