midnight
The boys told strange tales of that room , and they all believed that the floor was stained with blood . I often examined it , both by day and by candle-light ; it was very old , and of oak , dark , and much discoloured . But even my excited fancy could discover nothing like blood-spots upon it . After all , when I was alone in that bed-chamber , for the housekeeper seldom entered before midnight , and the flickering and feeble oil-lamp , that always burned upon her table , threw its uncertain rays upwards , and made the central face quiver as it were into life , I would shrink , horror-stricken , under the clothes , and silently pray for the morning . It was certainly a fearful room for a visionary child like myself , with whom the existence of ghosts made an article of faith , and who had been once before frightened even unto the death , by supernatural terrors . But of all this I never complained . I have not merit enough to boast that I am proud , for pride has always something ennobling about it : but I was vain , and vanity enabled me to put on the appearance of courage .