midnight
While she felt the most eager and burning desire to penetrate the mystery in which Oliver 's history was enveloped , she could not but hold sacred the confidence which the miserable woman with whom she had just conversed , had reposed in her , as a young and guileless girl . Her words and manner had touched Rose Maylie 's heart ; and , mingled with her love for her young charge , and scarcely less intense in its truth and fervour , was her fond wish to win the outcast back to repentance and hope . They purposed remaining in London only three days , prior to departing for some weeks to a distant part of the coast . It was now midnight of the first day . What course of action could she determine upon , which could be adopted in eight-and-forty hours ? Or how could she postpone the journey without exciting suspicion ? Mr. Losberne was with them , and would be for the next two days ; but Rose was too well acquainted with the excellent gentleman 's impetuosity , and foresaw too clearly the wrath with which , in the first explosion of his indignation , he would regard the instrument of Oliver 's recapture , to trust him with the secret , when her representations in the girl 's behalf could be seconded by no experienced person .