midnight
The letter , which contained this cry of distress , had reached Don Luis just before his death . No help was to come to her from him . But Belotti appeared , and now she was once more at home , her friend and sister were standing beside her bed , and Henrica encouraged her to hope for her father 's forgiveness . It was past midnight , yet Georg still awaited his friend 's return . The noise and bustle of the camp began to die away and the lantern , which at first had but feebly lighted the spacious lower-room of the farmhouse , burned still more dimly . The German shared this apartment with agricultural implements , harnesses , and many kinds of grain and vegetables heaped in piles against the walls , but he lacked inclination to cast even a glance at his motley surroundings . There was nothing pleasant to him in the present or future .