nearly midnight
In a delicious languor I drowsed , as it were , with my eyes open , -- losing myself in a labyrinth of happy dreams and fancies which came to me unbidden , -- till presently the music died softly away like a retreating wave and ceased altogether . I waited a few minutes -- listening breathlessly lest it should begin again and I lose some note of it , -- then hearing no more , I softly closed the port-hole and drew the curtain . I did this with an odd reluctance , feeling somehow that I had shut out a friend ; and I half apologised to this vague sentiment by reminding myself of the lateness of the hour . It was nearly midnight . I had intended writing to Francesca , -- but I was now disinclined for anything but rest . The music which had so entranced me throbbed still in my ears and made my heart beat with a quick sense of joy,-children -- there may be several inoffensive reasons for his lighting up , and he may think no more of advertisement than you or I. '' `` That 's true , '' -- assented Dr. Brayle , with a quick concession to his patron 's humour . `` But people nowadays do so many queer things for mere notoriety 's sake that it is barely possible to avoid suspecting them .