midnight
`` She tells me -- from behind the door -- that she 'll let me know if he 's worse . '' `` It 's very good of her , '' said Miss Ambient with a hollow sound . I had exchanged a glance with Mark in which it 's possible he read that my pity for him was untinged with contempt , though I scarce know why he should have cared ; and as his sister soon afterward got up and took her bedroom candlestick he proposed we should go back to his study . We sat there till after midnight ; he put himself into his slippers and an old velvet jacket , he lighted an ancient pipe , but he talked considerably less than before . There were longish pauses in our communion , but they only made me feel we had advanced in intimacy . They helped me further to understand my friend 's personal situation and to imagine it by no means the happiest possible . When his face was quiet it was vaguely troubled , showing , to my increase of interest -- if that was all that was wanted !