midnight
No , it is no illusion . I must have been here hours long ! Then he began on Milton 's hymn : -- `` It was the winter wild , While the heaven-born child , All meanly wrapt , in the rude manger lies . '' `` Winter wild , indeed , '' said Silas aloud ; and , if he had only known it , at that moment the sun beneath his feet was crossing the meridian , midnight had passed already , and Christmas day was born ! `` Only with speeches fair She wooes the gentle air To hide her guilty front with innocent snow . '' `` Innocent , indeed , '' said poor Silas , still aloud , `` much did he know of innocent snow ! '' And vainly did he try to recall the other stanzas , as he paced back and forth , round and round , and began now to wonder where his father and the others were , and if they could have come to any misfortune .