three o'clock in
the morning
On this spot I found him , his head reclined on the rock , and his eyes fixed upon the ground . I had followed him from the earliest dawn , and , after much importunity , I prevailed on him to descend from the heights , and return to his family . I went home with him , where the first impulse of his mind , on seeing Madame de la Tour , was to reproach her bitterly for having deceived him . She told us that a favourable wind having sprung up at three o'clock in the morning , and the vessel being ready to sail , the governor , attended by some of his staff and the missionary , had come with a palanquin to fetch her daughter ; and that , notwithstanding Virginia 's objections , her own tears and entreaties , and the lamentations of Margaret , every body exclaiming all the time that it was for the general welfare , they had carried her away almost dying . `` At least , '' cried Paul , `` if I had bid her farewell , I should now be more calm . I would have said to her , -- ` Virginia , if , during the time we have lived together , one word may have escaped me which has offended you , before you leave me forever , tell me that you forgive me . ' I would have said to her , -- ` Since I am destined to see you no more , farewell , my dear Virginia , farewell !