midnight
She disappeared into the hall , but he followed her . `` Elizabeth , '' he whispered , `` I mean it in earnest . '' She tore herself hastily from him , and went into the kitchen , where his sisters were talking together over the fire . Carl went out for a solitary walk over the island in the glorious starlight night , and did n't come in till past midnight . He had not meant what he said quite so decidedly in earnest ; but now after seeing her standing before him so wondrously beautiful , with tears in her eyes -- now he meant it in real earnest . He was prepared to engage himself , if necessary , in spite of every consideration . The next morning he left in his boat for Arendal , having whispered to her , however , in passing , before he left , `` I mean it in earnest . ''