midnight
After supper I knocked , as had been agreed upon , at her door ; she received me as she might a friend of childhood after a long absence . Henceforward I spent all my days and all my evenings in the same manner ; I generally found her reclining on a sofa with a white cover , which was placed in a corner between the fireplace and the window ; upon a small table on which stood a brass lamp there were some books , the letters she had received or commenced during the day , a little common tea-pot , -- which she gave me when she went away , and which has always stood upon my chimney since , -- and two cups of blue and pink china , in which we used to take tea at midnight . The old doctor would sometimes go up with me , to chat with his fair patient ; but after half an hour 's conversation , the good old man would find out that my presence went further than his advice or his baths to re-establish the health that was so precious to us all , and would leave us to our books and conversation . At midnight , I kissed the hand she extended to me across the table , and went to my own room ; but I never retired to rest until all was silent in hers . We led this delightful , twofold life during six long or short weeks ; long , when I call to mind the numberless palpitations of joy in our hearts , but short , when I remember the imperceptible rapidity of the hours that filled them . By a miracle of Providence , which does not occur once in ten years , the season seemed to connive at our happiness , and to conspire with us to prolong it . The whole month of October , and half of November , seemed like a new but leafless spring ; the air was still soft , the waters blue , the clouds were rosy , and the sun shone brightly .