midnight
She is simply radiant , simply irresistible , for the girls hang about her to repeat their congratulations again and again , to win another kiss , to hear the winning , gracious accents of the voice that has so long charmed and enthralled them . Old and young , rich and poor , big and little , those kinsfolk , school-mates , and neighbors , especially the little ones who were her scholars in the Sunday-school , flock about her , watch her with fascinated eyes ; and for every one she has sweet and gracious words and beaming smiles ; she holds them to the last . The children troop about her as she is led away to change her bridal-dress for the journey . 'T is approaching midnight and the `` owl train '' leaves within the hour ; and they hang about the stairways waiting for her reappearance , and hover in mysterious fascination about Captain Ray as he comes in his travelling suit of mufti , and wonder why he should discard his uniform and sword , and the carriage is now at the door , and great store of rice and old slippers are got in readiness , and presently down the broad stairway she comes , metamorphosed as to raiment , but radiant , winsome as ever ; and they seize upon her and bear her off bodily into the great parlor , and throng about her and pull her this way , that way , every way , and kiss and maul and squeeze and rumple , and never seem to exhaust her infinite patience or their own extravagant capacity ; but at last they begin to surge towards the door-way , and the bridesmaids hover in circle for the closing ceremony , and she tosses her bouquet to the ceiling amid shouts and scurry , and , marvel of marvels ! it is captured by her of the rosy cheeks and dancing eyes who has already secured the ring and fascinated the artilleryman , and they reach the door , and Ray has squeezed out to the steps , and some of the emotional cousins have retreated sobbing to deserted nooks and corners about the house , and at last she comes forth and springs lightly down the stairs , and the rice rattles after her along the broad walk , and the groomsmen line the gate-way and usher her into the carriage , and stand there ready to volley them with old slippers , and Ray is just about springing in beside her , when down comes Blake with his seven-league strides , bearing a sobbing little sunny-haired maiden of seven in his arms . `` Hold on ! '' he shouts .