midnight
The chambers seemed lower than they had appeared on any previous occasion of her return , the surfaces of both walls and ceilings standing in such relations to the eye that it could not avoid taking microscopic note of their irregularities and old fashion . Her own bedroom wore at once a look more familiar than when she had left it , and yet a face estranged . The world of little things therein gazed at her in helpless stationariness , as though they had tried and been unable to make any progress without her presence . Over the place where her candle had been accustomed to stand , when she had used to read in bed till the midnight hour , there was still the brown spot of smoke . She did not know that her father had taken especial care to keep it from being cleaned off . Having concluded her perambulation of this now uselessly commodious edifice , Grace began to feel that she had come a long journey since the morning ; and when her father had been up himself , as well as his wife , to see that her room was comfortable and the fire burning , she prepared to retire for the night . No sooner , however , was she in bed than her momentary sleepiness took itself off , and she wished she had stayed up longer .