midnight
Joris Hyde allowed the sweet emotions Cornelia had inspired to have , and to hold , and to occupy his whole being . His heart burned within him ; memories of Cornelia closed his eyes , and then filled them with adorable visions of her pure , fresh loveliness ; his pulses bounded ; his blood ran warm and free as the ethereal ichor of the gods . Sleep was a thousand leagues away ; he was so vivid , that the room felt hot ; and he flung open the casement and sat in a beatitude of blissful hopes and imaginations . And after midnight , when dreams fall , the moon came up over Nassau and Cedar Streets and threw poetic glamours over the antique churches , and grassy graveyards , and the pretty houses , covered with vines and budding rosebushes ; and this soft shadow of light calmed and charmed him . In it , he could believe all his dreams possible . He leaned forward and watched the silvery disc , struggling in soft , white clouds ; parting them , as with hands , when they formed in baffling , airy masses in her way . And the heavenly traveller was not silent ; she had a language he understood ; for as he watched the sweet , strong miracle , he said softly to himself -- `` It is a sign to me !