midnight
The restrictions which men and women have seen fit to place upon their intercourse with each other are the outcome of ages of experience , and they who disregard them bring upon themselves the troubles against which those same restrictions , irksome at times as they must be , are the only adequate defence . One letter I have here shows something of the strength and tenderness of Ideala 's devotion ; and I venture to think that , even under the circumstances , it must be good for a man to have been loved once in his life like that . The letter begins abruptly -- `` Oh , the delight of being able to write to you , '' she says , `` without fear and without constraint . If it were possible to step from the dreary oppression of the northern midnight into the full blaze of the southern noon , the transition would not be greater than is the sense of rest and relief that has come to me after the weary days which are over . Do you know , I never believed that any one person could be so much to another as you are to me ; that any one could be so happy as I am ! I think I am _ too _ happy . But , dear , I want you !