midnight
They choose a master for protection and always carry his pass . Henry chose Mr. D. , but he 's lost the pass he had . '' When the pass was ready , a carriage dashed up to the back-gate and the party drove off in fine style . At the soirée we had secession talk sandwiched everywhere ; between the supper , and the music , and the dance ; but midnight has come , and silence , and a few too brief hours of oblivion . _ Feb. 24 , 1861 _ . -- The toil of the week has ended . Nearly a month has passed since I wrote here .