midnight
`` Indeed , Ellen , do no such thing , '' replied I ; `` continue your story . '' `` At last I was engaged as teacher to a school . I had better have taken a situation as housemaid . I was expected to be everywhere , to do everything -- was up at daylight , and never in bed till past midnight : fared very badly , and was equally ill-paid -- but still it was honest employment , and I remained there for more than a year ; but , though as economical as possible , my salary would not maintain me in clothes and washing , which was all I required . There was a master of elocution , who came every week , and whose wife was the teacher of music . They took a great liking to me , and pointed out how much better I should be off , if I could succeed on the stage , of which they had no doubt . For months I refused , hoping still to have some tidings of you ; but at last my drudgery became so insupportable , and my means so decreased , that I unwillingly consented .