midnight
The rapture which had been predicted to her for this moonlight night , and of which Hermon had robbed her , was mirrored in his features . He could think of everything except her and her poor , crushed heart . But Ledscha was mistaken . Althea had asked the sculptor whether he still regretted having been detained by her before midnight , and he had confessed that his remaining at the banquet had been connected with a great sacrifice -- nay , with an offence which weighed heavily on his mind . Yet he was grateful to the favour of the gods that had guided his decision , for Althea had it in her power to compensate him richly for what he had lost . A glance full of promise flashed upon him from her eloquent eyes , and , turning toward the pedestal at the same instant , she asked softly , `` Is the compensation I must and will bestow connected with the Arachne ? '' An eager `` Yes '' confirmed this question , and a swift movement of her expressive lips showed him that his boldest anticipations were to be surpassed .