midnight
Rectitude , no doubt , is demanded from all ; but it must be owned the consequences are less severe when a man forsakes the narrow path of virtue . As the Admiral frequently observes -- woman is the weaker vessel and therefore much more is rightly expected from her , and the punishment justly more severe , as we observe in the case of Eve and other examples for our learning . This , however , is a bewildering subject , and more suited to my dear Admiral 's understanding , so I pursue it no further . We were all unable to eat , and were sitting listless in the parlour as midnight approached , when my ear caught the gallop of a horse . `` Mr Darcy ! '' I cried , starting to my feet and trembling with agitation . Mrs Darcy , exercising an almost superhuman composure , sat rigidly in her chair .