midnight
Were it not that strong talents will often go farthest when they seem to have least assistance , it would be almost incredible to tell the rapidity of Miss Vernon 's progress in knowledge ; and it was still more extraordinary , when her stock of mental acquisitions from books was compared with her total ignorance of actual life . It seemed as if she saw and knew everything , except what passed in the world around her ; -- and I believe it was this very ignorance and simplicity of thinking upon ordinary subjects , so strikingly contrasted with her fund of general knowledge and information , which rendered her conversation so irresistibly fascinating , and rivetted the attention to whatever she said or did ; since it was absolutely impossible to anticipate whether her next word or action was to display the most acute perception , or the most profound simplicity . The degree of danger which necessarily attended a youth of my age and keen feelings from remaining in close and constant intimacy with an object so amiable , and so peculiarly interesting , all who remember their own sentiments at my age may easily estimate . Yon lamp its line of quivering light Shoots from my lady 's bower ; But why should Beauty 's lamp be bright At midnight 's lonely hour ? OLD BALLAD . The mode of life at Osbaldistone Hall was too uniform to admit of description . Diana Vernon and I enjoyed much of our time in our mutual studies ; the rest of the family killed theirs in such sports and pastimes as suited the seasons , in which we also took a share .