midnight
Paul read some soothing and beautiful Psalms , which took his companion 's mind back to his native mountains , and the white spire of the village church where he had worshipped with his mother . The hard lines melted in his face as he listened , but Paul fell upon a bitter verse , and the agent 's conscience began to trouble him . He could not look into the boy 's eyes , for they seemed to rebuke him , and at last he commanded Paul to stop . It was midnight . They heard the great clock in the hall strike twelve , and all the household slumbered . `` Go to your mistress 's room , '' said Wait ; `` tell her that I must see her _ now _ -- she must come at once . The morning may never come to me .