midnight
The sudden movement of a corps of the army to which he was attached gave him an opportunity of an easy divorce from his bride , and it is likely he had not twice thought of her since the event had happened . Now , however , that an intention of marrying in reality occurred to him , the incident came freshly to his mind , and he jocularly wondered if his second marriage might prove more fortunate than his first . The hour and the place were favorable to revery . It was past midnight . All was silent and noiseless in the great palace ; the sharp ticking of the clock on the mantel-piece was the only sound to be heard , save , at a long distance off , the dull , subdued flow of the Arno . The room itself , unlighted , except by the flickering wood fire , was in deep shadow ; and , lulled by these influences and his mild Manilla , Norwood was free to revel in so much of dreamland as natures like his ever explore . Who can tell whether men of this stamp know what it is to `` grieve , '' whether chagrin for some momentary disappointment , anger at being thwarted , is not the nearest approach to sorrow that they ever feel ?