midnight
She stood quaking and irresolute , now peeping for a moment from behind her screen , then dodging back with an increase of panic . This display -- rendered more uncouth by its voicelessness -- revolted the æsthetic sensibilities of Helwyse . Besides , what was the meaning of it ? Had it actually been Davy Jones with whom he had striven on the midnight sea ? and had his adversary , instead of drowning , spread his bat-wings for home , and left his supposititious murderer to disquiet himself in vain ? Verily , a practical joke worthy its author ! This conceit revealed others , as a lightning-flash the midnight landscape .