midnight
It was rarely that Falkland alluded even so slightly to the futurity of another world ; and when he did , it was never in a careless and commonplace manner , but in a tone which sank deep into Emily 's heart . `` Look , '' she said , at length , `` at that beautiful star ! the first and brightest ! I have often thought it was like the promise of life beyond the tomb -- a pledge to us that , even in the depths of midnight , the earth shall have a light , unquenched and unquenchable , from Heaven ! '' Emily turned to Falkland as she said this , and her countenance sparkled with the enthusiasm she felt . But his face was deadly pale . There went over it , like a cloud , an expression of changeful and unutterable thought ; and then , passing suddenly away , it left his features calm and bright in all their noble and intellectual beauty .