eleven o'clock at night
She affected , at first , not to understand him ; but when it became impossible to avoid perceiving his meaning , she only answered , `` No , no -- I can not -- I dare not ; '' but the answer was always accompanied with a sigh and a tear ; and as from day to day he informed her of the progress the ship made in her repairs , her negative became fainter and less resolutely expressed . Owing to the necessity of making some repairs in his country residence , the governor and his family had latterly resided altogether in St. Blas ; and as the puppy Don Gregorio watched with a suspicious and malignant eye , the frequent visits of Morton , the lovers had generally met at the house of Dame Juanita , the front of which was occupied as a shop , with a little parlor back of it , to which Isabella had access by passing out of the gate in the rear of her uncle 's house , without going through the street . With all the glowing eloquence of young love , and hope , and confidence , Morton detailed to her the thousand and one schemes that his fertile imagination suggested ; Isabella could see but one hideous feature in them all -- the dreadful fate that awaited him if unsuccessful . `` Listen to me , '' said he one day to her , as she had been urging to him the terrible risk he encountered -- for she seemed to have no eyes for the certain immuring in a convent that awaited _ her _ -- `` listen to me , dearest Isabella ; the ship is now nearly ready ; she will sail in three or four days at farthest , and will sail at ten or eleven o'clock at night , to take advantage of the land-breeze . I will have my boat at the quay , and horses here in town ; in the dusk of evening , and with a little disguise , you will not be recognised ; there is no guarda-costa here now , and before the sun rises we shall be out of sight of land , and beyond the reach of pursuit . '' She made no reply , but sat pale as marble ; the images of her kind and affectionate aunt and cousins , and even of her much-feared but still much-loved uncle , floated before her eyes , and seemed reproaching her with unkindness and ingratitude ; while , on the other hand , her fancy painted her the wife of the man she loved , and without whom she felt life would be wretched : she saw herself surrounded by enlightened and polished society , such as her sainted mother had graced before her ; she saw herself moving in a new sphere , and fulfilling new duties : then imagination placed before her bewildered mind the sinfulness of deserting the station in which Heaven had placed her . She sighed deeply as she almost determined to refuse , when a glimpse of her abhorred lover , Don Gregorio , caused a sudden and violent revulsion of feeling , and to Morton 's repeated entreaties , `` speak to me , dear Isabella ; say yes , love , '' she at length murmured a scarcely audible or articulate consent .