midnight
Should she at once set aside all past evidences of his worth , and give ready credence to his prompt desertion of his early friend ? No ! she resolved to banish the unworthy thought ; to cherish still the firm belief that some explanation would shortly offer itself which would yet satisfy her aching heart . Gertrude continued during the remainder of the evening in an elevated frame of mind , and she was able to go back to the drawing-room for Emily , say good night to her friends with a cheerful voice , and before midnight she sought her pillow and went quietly to sleep . But this calmness of mind , however , was the result of strong excitement , and therefore could not last . The next morning she yielded to depressed spirits , and the effort which she made to rise , dress , and go to breakfast was almost mechanical . She excused herself from her customary walk with the doctor , for to that she felt unequal .