midnight
`` But she knew what she was about -- she had an object in view , undoubtedly , '' she added , glad of an opportunity to give vent to her feelings against ` Lena . `` Pray , what was her object ? '' asked Durward , and Mrs. Livingstone replied , `` I told you once that ` Lena was ambitious , and I have every reason to believe she would willingly marry Captain Atherton , notwithstanding he is so much older . '' She forgot that there was the same disparity between the captain and Anna as between him and ` Lena , but Durward did not , and with a derisive smile he listened , while she proceeded to give her reasons for thinking that a desire to supplant Anna was the sole object which ` Lena had in view , for what else could have prompted that midnight ride to Sunnyside . Again Durward smiled , but before he could answer , the bride-groom elect stood before them , looking rather crestfallen , but evidently making a great effort to appear as usual . `` And so the bird has flown ? '' said he , `` Well , it takes a Yankee , after all , to manage a case , but how did he find it out ? ''