midnight
Whichever party was uppermost in any district , sought to ruin all of the opposite faction . Robbery and plunder became common , and that not only on the track of armies or the route of smaller bodies of soldiers , for bands of mere marauders , taking up the cry of the faction that happened in any neighbourhood to have the ascendancy , plundered houses , robbed travellers , and were guilty of all sorts of violence . Hence it had become as perilous to stay at home in an unfortified house as to travel ; and many were the terrors which during the winter tried the courage of the girl , and checked the recovery of the old man . At length one morning , after a midnight alarm , Mr. Herbert thus addressed Dorothy , as she waited upon him with his breakfast : ` It fears me much , my dear Dorothy , that the time will be long ere any but fortified places will be safe abodes . It is a question in my mind whether it would not be better to seek refuge for you -- . But stay ; let me suggest my proposal , rather than startle you with it in sudden form complete . You are related to the Somersets , are you not ? '