midnight
This letter so affected Pierrette that she sat for more than an hour reading and re-reading and gazing at it . Then she remembered with anguish that she had nothing to write with . She summoned courage to make the difficult journey from her garret to the dining-room , where she obtained pen , paper , and ink , and returned safely without waking her terrible cousin . A few minutes before midnight she had finished the following letter : -- My Friend , -- Oh ! yes , my friend ; for there is no one but you , Jacques , and my grandmother to love me . God forgive me , but you are the only two persons whom I love , both alike , neither more nor less . I was too little to know my dear mamma ; but you , Jacques , and my grandmother , and my grandfather , -- God grant him heaven , for he suffered much from his ruin , which was mine , -- but you two who are left , I love you both , unhappy as I am .