midnight
David looked at him with amazement -- at the worn misshapen head thrown haughtily back -- at the arms folded across the chest . Then his pride gave way , and that intolerable smart within could no longer hide itself . His soul melted within him ; tears began to rain over his cheeks . He tottered to the fire and sat down , instinctively spreading his hands to the blaze , that word ` father ' echoing in his ears ; and by midnight Mr. Ancrum knew all the story , or as much of it as man could to tell to man . From this night of confession and of storm there emerged at least one result -- the beginnings of a true and profitable bond between David and Ancrum . Hitherto there had been expenditure of interest and affection on the minister 's side , and a certain responsiveness and friendly susceptibility on David 's ; but no true understanding and contact , mind with mind . But in these agitated hours of such talk as belongs only to the rare crises of life , not only did Ancrum gain an insight into David 's inmost nature , with all its rich , unripe store of feelings and powers , deeper than any he had possessed before , but David , breaking through the crusts of association , getting beyond and beneath the Sunday-school teacher and minister , came for the first time upon the real man in his friend , apart from trappings -- cast off the old sense of pupilage , and found a brother instead of a monitor .