midnight
Could it , oh God ! -- could it be true , that Satan had obtained the terrific power over her and her will , of which she had heard and read ? Could she indeed be possessed by a demon and be indeed a witch , and yet till now have been unconscious of it ? And her excited imagination recalled , with singular vividness , all she had ever heard on the subject -- the horrible midnight sacrament , the very presence and power of Satan . Then remembering every angry thought against her neighbour , against the impertinences of Prudence , against the overbearing authority of her aunt , against the persevering crazy suit of Manasseh , the indignation -- only that morning , but such ages off in real time -- at Faith 's injustice ; oh , could such evil thoughts have had devilish power given to them by the father of evil , and , all unconsciously to herself , have gone forth as active curses into the world ? And so , on the ideas went careering wildly through the poor girl 's brain -- the girl thrown inward upon herself . At length , the sting of her imagination forced her to start up impatiently .