midnight
It was then turning dark , and the yellow light that streamed in through the ancient windows in the choir was mingled with a murky red . As the grand tones resounded through the church , they seemed , to Tom , to find an echo in the depth of every ancient tomb , no less than in the deep mystery of his own heart . Great thoughts and hopes came crowding on his mind as the rich music rolled upon the air and yet among them -- something more grave and solemn in their purpose , but the same -- were all the images of that day , down to its very lightest recollection of childhood . The feeling that the sounds awakened , in the moment of their existence , seemed to include his whole life and being ; and as the surrounding realities of stone and wood and glass grew dimmer in the darkness , these visions grew so much the brighter that Tom might have forgotten the new pupil and the expectant master , and have sat there pouring out his grateful heart till midnight , but for a very earthy old verger insisting on locking up the cathedral forthwith . So he took leave of his friend , with many thanks , groped his way out , as well as he could , into the now lamp-lighted streets , and hurried off to get his dinner . All the farmers being by this time jogging homewards , there was nobody in the sanded parlour of the tavern where he had left the horse ; so he had his little table drawn out close before the fire , and fell to work upon a well-cooked steak and smoking hot potatoes , with a strong appreciation of their excellence , and a very keen sense of enjoyment . Beside him , too , there stood a jug of most stupendous Wiltshire beer ; and the effect of the whole was so transcendent , that he was obliged every now and then to lay down his knife and fork , rub his hands , and think about it .