midnight
All this while she was giving her loving little pats and kisses , on their way up stairs , whither she at once carried the traveler . Such a perfect gem of a room as that was into which she was ushered . Ester 's love of beauty seemed likely to be fully gratified ; she cast one eager glance around her , took in all the charming little details in a second of time , and then gave her undivided attention to this wonderful person before her who certainly was , in veritable flesh and blood , the much-dreamed over , much-longed for Cousin Abbie . A hundred times had Ester painted her portrait -- tall and dark and grand , with a perfectly regal form and queenly air , hair black as midnight , coiled in heavy masses around her head , eyes blacker if possible than her hair . As to dress , it was very difficult to determine ; sometimes it was velvet and diamonds , or , if the season would not possibly admit of that , then a rich , dark silk , never , by any chance , a material lighter than silk . This had been her picture . Now she could not suppress a laugh as she noted the contrast between it and the original .