about three in the morning
Meanwhile , he suddenly found himself standing with his back to the fire in the lighted study , talking to Mr. Moggridge , who , late as was the hour , had called for news , and had stayed on from a perception that the young minister had best have some one to talk to as far into the morning as he would go on talking . They were talking in a business-like way of Zion ; and Theophil was smoking cigarette after cigarette . He was terribly clear-headed and bright-witted , and Mr. Moggridge looked at him sometimes with a sort of fear . It was about three in the morning when the door was softly opened by Mrs. Talbot . `` Will you come now , and see our little girl ? '' she said , with a voice that could say no more . Theophil followed her , and , still in a dream , he stood in Jenny 's room , grown strangely solemn and sweet since he was last there , -- was it a thousand years ago ?