midnight
The strain of weeks of questioning , weeks of mental suffering , was relieved by the river woman 's serious statement and Parson Rasba 's look of bewilderment at the kaleidoscopic matrimonial adventuring . At the same time , his wonder and Mrs. Caope 's unconscious statement stirred up in her thoughts a new questioning . When Nelia returned on board her boat , and sat in its cabin , a freed woman , she very calmly reckoned up the advantages of Mrs. Caope 's standards . Then seeing that it was after midnight , and that only the stars shone in that narrow , wooded chute , she felt she wanted to go out into the wide river again , to go where she was not shut in . She cast off her lines and noiselessly floated out and down the slow current . She saw Parson Rasba 's boat move out into the current behind her and drift along in the soft , autumn night . Her first thought was one of indignation , but when a little later they emerged into the broad river current and she felt the solitude of the interminable surface , her mood changed .