midnight
The regular charge is but a halfpenny ; therefore you had better take coppers with you ; '' and as she spoke , she held a halfpenny in her fingers towards him . `` Well , well , '' stammered out George , with his hand in his pocket , `` I believe I have no coppers ; '' and he accepted the halfpenny from the hand of Caroline Paling ; and while he did so , he could not conceal the tears that rose to his eyes . But , trifling as the amount of her offer was , it must be understood that the person to whom it was tendered was one who would not have accepted more -- who was ashamed of his poverty , and strove to conceal it ; and there was a soul , there was a delicacy , in her manner of tendering it which I can speak of , but not describe . It saved him also from having to wander weary and solitary miles at midnight . No sooner had the disabled soldier crossed the river , and entered the narrow lanes overshadowed by dark hedges of hazel , than he burst into tears , and his first words were , `` Caroline , I will remember thee ! '' It was near midnight when he approached the house which he called his home . The inmates were asleep .