midnight
To her this period had been one of breathless suspense , like the moment before the storm , when trees hang lifeless in a stifling atmosphere , and animals raise their heads in frightened expectancy , awaiting with nameless terror the first gust which shall herald the tornado . Since her father 's return from France , she noted that the air of preoccupation apparent before his departure , was now intensified . While in his kindness toward her the girl could detect no change , still , there had come between them a species of estrangement . Seldom was there an opportunity for them to converse , for Fawkes was up before daylight , and rarely returned until after the midnight hour had sounded . Often it was in her heart to ask his confidence -- often to hint that she had overheard his words on that fearful night , -- but when she approached with such intent , a nameless something in his manner held her mute . The source from which she had hoped would flow sweet waters of comfort and relief proved dry and arid as summer dust ; he to whom in an outburst of anguish she had confided her grief vanished completely from her life , as though the earth had engulfed him . True , Garnet visited her many times after the night she unburdened her heart to him , but his counsel was ever the same -- to wait ; at times she even imagined there was in his tones a hint at justification of her father 's utterance .