midnight
But she was coldly and cruelly repulsed -- not even being permitted to gain her mother 's presence . In regard to her husband , her love was like a deep , pure stream . Its course was never troubled by passion , or obstructed in its onward course . Though he would come home often and often in a state of stupor from drink -- though it was rarely earlier than midnight when he returned to make glad with his presence her watching and waiting heart , she never felt a reproaching thought . And to her , his words and tones , and manner , were ever full of tenderness . Deeply did he love her -- and for her sake more than for his own , was he struggling thus against a powerful current daily exhausting his strength , without moving onward . Thus much , briefly , of those two years of toil , and struggle , and pain .