midnight
Half an hour , an hour , passed ; the hall clock struck one , and then the two midnight pedestrians disappeared round the corner and were gone . The moments passed , and still Grace sat wondering , and of her wonder finding no end . What did it mean ? Who was this man with whom the proudest girl the sun ever shone on walked by stealth , and at midnight ? Who was he ? Suddenly in the silence and darkness of the coming morning , a thought struck her that brought the blood to her face . `` Mr. Richards . ''