midnight
I know my steerage as well as they . '' So saying , he left the apartment . In the meanwhile the Earl had re-entered the bedchamber , bent on taking a hasty farewell of the lovely Countess , and scarce daring to trust himself in private with her , to hear requests again urged which he found it difficult to parry , yet which his recent conversation with his master of horse had determined him not to grant . He found her in a white cymar of silk lined with furs , her little feet unstockinged and hastily thrust into slippers ; her unbraided hair escaping from under her midnight coif , with little array but her own loveliness , rather augmented than diminished by the grief which she felt at the approaching moment of separation . `` Now , God be with thee , my dearest and loveliest ! '' said the Earl , scarce tearing himself from her embrace , yet again returning to fold her again and again in his arms , and again bidding farewell , and again returning to kiss and bid adieu once more . `` The sun is on the verge of the blue horizon -- I dare not stay .