midnight
He loved his money ; he did not love his fellow-beings . His heart almost ceased to beat beneath the shock , his lip quivered , and the tears started in his eyes . His brain began to reel before the blow ; he uttered a prolonged howl , and rushed out into the kitchen rather from impulse than because he desired or expected human sympathy . Bessie Watson was terrified by the fearful aspect of Mr. Fairfield when he entered the room , and for weeks the awful expression upon his face haunted her like the vision of a midnight ghost . Levi was startled , and Mrs. Fairfield , accustomed as she was to the ways of her husband , was deeply moved by his singular conduct . When he was ailing , he was subject to fainting fits ; but he had never appeared so badly as on the present occasion . The miser trusted no person , had no confidence in any one , not even in his wife .