midnight
But that sentence of mystic meaning shone out before him like a transparency , illuminated in the darkness of his mind ; he determined to take it for his motto until he should be victorious in his quest . When he took his candle , to retire apparently to bed , he again drew forth the manuscript , and , sitting down by the dim light , tried vainly to read it ; but he could not as yet settle himself to concentrated and regular effort ; he kept turning the leaves of the manuscript , in the hope that some other illuminated sentence might gleam out upon him , as the first had done , and shed a light on the context around it ; and that then another would be discovered , with similar effect , until the whole document would thus be illuminated with separate stars of light , converging and concentrating in one radiance that should make the whole visible . But such was his bad fortune , not another word of the manuscript was he able to read that whole evening ; and , moreover , while he had still an inch of candle left , Aunt Keziah , in her nightcap , -- as witch-like a figure as ever went to a wizard meeting in the forest with Septimius 's ancestor , -- appeared at the door of the room , aroused from her bed , and shaking her finger at him . `` Septimius , '' said she , `` you keep me awake , and you will ruin your eyes , and turn your head , if you study till midnight in this manner . You 'll never live to be a minister , if this is the way you go on . '' `` Well , well , Aunt Keziah , '' said Septimius , covering his manuscript with a book , `` I am just going to bed now . '' `` Good night , then , '' said the old woman ; `` and God bless your labors . ''