midnight
`` But , '' he threw back over his shoulder , `` you 'd better acquire the rudiments of a figure before you go a-courting Alida Ascott . '' And left Portlaw sitting petrified in his wadded chair . Malcourt strolled on , a humorously malicious smile hovering near his eyes , but his face grew serious as he glanced up at Hamil 's window . He had not seen Hamil during his illness or his convalescence -- had made no attempt to , evading lightly the casual suggestions of Portlaw that he and his young wife pay Hamil a visit ; nor did he appear to take anything more than a politely perfunctory interest in the sick man 's progress ; yet Constance Palliser had often seen him pacing the lawn under Hamil 's window long after midnight during those desperate hours when the life-flame scarcely flickered -- those ominous moments when so many souls go out to meet the impending dawn . But now , in the later stages of Hamil 's rapid convalescence which is characteristic of a healthy recovery from that unpleasant malady , Malcourt avoided the cottage , even ceased to inquire ; and Hamil had never asked to see him , although , for appearance ' sake , he knew that he must do so very soon . Wayward and Constance Palliser were visiting Mrs. Ascott at Pride 's Fall ; young Mrs. Malcourt had been there for a few days , but was returning to prepare for the series of house-parties arranged by Portlaw who had included Cecile Cardross and Philip Gatewood in the first relay . As for Malcourt there was no counting on him ; he was likely to remain for several days at any of the five distant gate-keepers ' lodges across the mountains or to be mousing about the woods with wardens and foresters , camping where convenient ; or to start for New York without explanation .