midnight
About two years after his coming , Eva began to fail rapidly , and even her father could no longer deceive himself . Eva was about to leave him . It was Tom 's greatest joy to carry the frail little form in his arms , up and down , into the veranda , and to him she talked , what she would not distress her father with , of these mysterious intimations which the soul feels ere it leaves its clay for ever . He lay , at last , all night in the veranda ready to rouse at the least call , and at midnight came the message . Earth was passed and earthly pain ; so solemn was the triumphant brightness of that face it checked even the sobs of sorrow . A glorious smile , and she said , brokenly , `` Oh -- love -- joy -- peace '' and passed from death unto life . Week after week glided by in the St. Clare mansion and the waves of life settled back to their usual flow where that little bark had gone down .