midnight
The love which had been divided between the two , seemed now to be concentrated upon the one , and yet this true old Briton never hinted at James ' selling out and coming home , for he said that the country had need of every one then , more particularly such a one as James . Time went on , and he came back to them from Corunna , and spending little more than a month at home , he started away once more ; and next they heard of him at Busaco , wounded and promoted . Then they followed him in their hearts along the path of glory , from Talavera by Albuera and Vittoria , across the Pyrenees . And while they were yet reading a long-delayed letter , written from Toulouse at midnight -- after having been to the theatre with Lord Wellington , wearing a white cockade -- he broke in on them again , to tell them the war was well-nigh over , and that he would soon come and live with them in peace . Then what delightful reunions were there in the old gallery window , going over all the weary campaigns once more ; pleasant rambles , too , down by the river-side in the sweet May evenings , old Marmaduke and the curate discreetly walking in front , and James and Agnes loitering far behind . And in the succeeding winter after they were married , what pleasant rides had they to meet the hounds , and merry evenings before the bright wood-fire in the hall . Never were four people more happy than they .