midnight
`` You shall know it soon , I am sure of that -- indeed , I promise that you shall . '' `` I am quite willing to wait on the future for everything if you think it is best , '' I said . We sat for a long time , making plans for our future life in England . It was near midnight when we retired to our berths , but we were up early in the morning , eager to catch the first sight of land . On reaching the deck we were overjoyed to see the distant spires of Southampton glowing in the morning sun . Mr. and Mrs. Earl met us at the station of the Southwestern Railway in London , and we were driven at once to their home . Hester came to breakfast with us , but Mrs. Earl would not let her go to Liverpool that day , ship-worn and fatigued as we all felt after the voyage .