midnight
Here below , `` the waters are hid with a stone , and the face of the deep is frozen ; '' but above liveth He `` who can bind the sweet influence of the Pleiades , and loose the bands of Orion . '' Go with Fate over the bridge , and she vanishes in the land beyond the gulf ! Behold where the Eternal demands Eternity for the progress of His creatures and the vindication of His justice ! It was past midnight , and Lucretia sat alone in her dreary room ; her head buried on her bosom , her eyes fixed on the ground , her hands resting on her knees , -- it was an image of inanimate prostration and decrepitude that might have moved compassion to its depth . The door opened , and Martha entered , to assist Madame Dalibard , as usual , to retire to rest . Her mistress slowly raised her eyes at the noise of the opening door , and those eyes took their searching , penetrating acuteness as they fixed upon the florid nor uncomely countenance of the waiting-woman . In her starched cap , her sober-coloured stuff gown , in her prim , quiet manner and a certain sanctified demureness of aspect , there was something in the first appearance of this woman that impressed you with the notion of respectability , and inspired confidence in those steady good qualities which we seek in a trusty servant .