midnight
In Lisa 's room behind the white curtain a candle was burning , and in Marfa Timofyevna 's bedroom a lamp shone with red-fire before the holy picture , and was reflected with equal brilliance on the gold frame . Below , the door on to the balcony gaped wide open . Lavretsky sat down on a wooden garden-seat , leaned on his elbow , and began to watch this door and Lisa 's window . In the town it struck midnight ; a little clock in the house shrilly clanged out twelve ; the watchman beat it with jerky strokes upon his board . Lavretsky had no thought , no expectation ; it was sweet to him to feel himself near Lisa , to sit in her garden on the seat where she herself had sat more than once . The light in Lisa 's room vanished . `` Sleep well , my sweet girl , '' whispered Lavretsky , still sitting motionless , his eyes fixed on the darkened window .