midnight
Though waves of heat caused by some sudden recollection or impatient longing still ran through my body , a saner joy of anticipation was succeeding emotional tumult , and I reflected that Nancy had been right in insisting that we walk circumspectly in spite of passion . After all , I had outwitted circumstance , I had gained the prize , I could afford to wait a little . We should talk it over to-morrow , -- no , to-day . The luminous face of the city hall clock reminded me that midnight was long past ... . I awoke with the consciousness of a new joy , suddenly to identify it with Nancy . She was mine ! I kept repeating it as I dressed ; summoning her , not as she had lain in my arms in the darkness -- though the intoxicating sweetness of that pervaded me -- but as she had been before the completeness of her surrender , dainty , surrounded by things expressing an elusive , uniquely feminine personality .