midnight
help -- help me ! '' Then some men laid hold of me and lifted me up . I clung to Rayel with all my strength , but could not resist them , and as I was borne away I knew that Rayel and I had parted forever . After that midnight parting the first thing I can recall was the touch of a gentle hand upon my face . When my eyes opened I saw Hester bending over me . `` You are at home now , Kendric , '' said she . Such a feeling of weakness came over me that I could not speak .