midnight
She looked round , with anxious enquiry ; the deep twilight , that had fallen over the scene , admitted only imperfect images to the eye , but , at some distance on the sea , she thought she perceived a gondola : a chorus of voices and instruments now swelled on the air -- so sweet , so solemn ! it seemed like the hymn of angels descending through the silence of night ! Now it died away , and fancy almost beheld the holy choir reascending towards heaven ; then again it swelled with the breeze , trembled awhile , and again died into silence . It brought to Emily 's recollection some lines of her late father , and she repeated in a low voice , Oft I hear , Upon the silence of the midnight air , Celestial voices swell in holy chorus That bears the soul to heaven ! The deep stillness , that succeeded , was as expressive as the strain that had just ceased . It was uninterrupted for several minutes , till a general sigh seemed to release the company from their enchantment . Emily , however , long indulged the pleasing sadness , that had stolen upon her spirits ; but the gay and busy scene that appeared , as the barge approached St. Mark 's Place , at length roused her attention .