twelve o'clock
I had received a note from her about a week before , in which she told me that Cumberland had been absent from the Priory for some days , and , as long as this was the case , ~ 320 ~ ~ she was comparatively free from annoyance , but that Mr. Vernor 's mind was evidently as much set upon the match as ever ; nothing , however , she assured me , should induce her to consent , for much as she had always disliked the scheme , she now felt that death were far preferable to a union with a man she despised ; and she ended by saying , that whenever she felt inclined to give way to despair , the remembrance of my affection came across her like a sunbeam , and rendered her happy even in the midst of her distress . -- Oh ! what would I not have given , to have possessed the dear privilege of consoling her , to have told her that she had nothing to fear , that my love should surround and protect her , and that , under the hallowing influence of sympathy , happiness for the future would be increased twofold , while sorrow shared between us would be deprived of half its bitterness ! -- in fact , long before I arrived at the cottage , I had worked myself up into a great state of excitement , and had originated more romantic nonsense than is promulgated in a `` seminary for young ladies , '' in the interval between the time when the French teacher has put out the candle , and the fair pupils have talked themselves to sleep , which , if report does not belie them , is not until they have forfeited all chance of adding to their attractions by getting a little beauty-sleep before twelve o'clock . `` Ah , Frank ! back already ! what have you done with Lawless ? ''