midnight
He hates even to burn a log , though they are strewn round loose all over the place . '' Maria , was feeding Agag on the hearth , and she waited until he had finished before she took up her hat and wraps and went toward the door . `` Oh , you need n't bother to light me , '' she said , waving Miss Saidie back when she would have followed . `` Why , I could find my way over this house at midnight without a candle . '' Then , with a cheerful `` Goodnight , '' she called Agag and went up the dusky staircase . A wood fire was burning in her room , and she stood for a moment looking pensively into the flames , a faint smile sketched about her mouth . Then throwing off her black dress in the desire for freedom , she clasped her hands above her head and paced slowly up and down the shadowy length of the room .