midnight
Though the sun had set some time , and no moon had yet appeared in the purple sky , yet was it far from dark . An azure mantle of twilight seemed to wrap the earth -- the sea -- the heavens ; and so soft , so overpowering was the influence of the scene and of the night , that slumber gradually stole upon the lady 's eyes . There now , upon the warm sand , slept Nisida ; and when the chaste advent of the moon bathed all in silver , as the sun had for twelve hours steeped all in gold , the beams of the goddess of the night played on her charming countenance without awakening her . The raven masses of her hair lay upon her flushed cheeks like midnight on a bed of roses , her long black lashes reposed on those cheeks , so surpassingly lovely with their rich carnation hues . For she dreamt of Fernand ; and her vision was a happy one . Imagination played wild tricks with the shipwrecked , lonely lady , as if to recompense her for the waking realities of her sad position . She thought that she was reposing in the delicious valley which she had explored in the afternoon -- she thought that Fernand was her companion -- that she lay in his arms -- that his lips pressed hers -- that she was all to him as he was all to her , and that love 's cup of enjoyment was full to the very brim .