midnight
Why then should I thus continue to be unhappy over what I can not alter ? It avails nothing to Edith . She is happy -- far happier than if she had remained on this troublesome earth . '' But , even while he uttered these words , there came into his mind such a realizing sense of what the poor girl must have suffered , when she found her love thrown back upon her , crushing her heart by its weight , that he bowed his head upon his bosom and in bitter self-upbraidings passed the hours until midnight , when sleep locked up his senses , and calmed the turbulence of his feelings . MONTHS elapsed before Edwin Florence ventured again into company . `` Why will you shut yourself up after this fashion ? '' said an acquaintance to him one day .