midnight
We proceeded on our journey in silence . My mind was occupied again in endeavouring to account for Mr. Forester 's letter . I knew the inflexibility and sternness of Mr. Falkland 's mind in accomplishing the purposes he had at heart ; but I also knew that every virtuous and magnanimous principle was congenial to his character . When we arrived , midnight was already past , and we were obliged to waken one of the servants to give us admittance . I found that Mr. Forester had left a message for me , in consideration of the possibility of my arrival during the night , directing me immediately to go to bed , and to take care that I did not come weary and exhausted to the business of the following day . I endeavoured to take his advice ; but my slumbers were unrefreshing and disturbed . I suffered however no reduction of courage : the singularity of my situation , my conjectures with respect to the present , my eagerness for the future , did not allow me to sink into a languid and inactive state .