midnight
There was just moon enough to see it by ; though night and storm held the vast open cup , across which the clouds came racing -- beating up from the coast and the south-west . Ghostly light touched the river courses here and there , and showed the distant portal of the sea . Through the cloud and wind and darkness breathed a great Nature-voice , a voice of power and infinite freedom . Laura suddenly , in a dim passionate way , thought of the words `` to cease upon the midnight with no pain . '' If life could just cease , here , in the wild dark , while , for the last time in their lives , they were once more alone together ! -- while in this little cart , on this lonely road , she was still his charge and care -- dependent on his man 's strength , delivered over to him , and him only -- out of all the world . When they reached the lower road the pony quickened his pace , and the wind was less boisterous .