midnight
It made his heart rejoice to watch the budding affection of these normal , healthy young people . And he knew the magic of the violin . And so they waltzed on to their heart 's content in the large dining-room of the hotel at Graniteville . At midnight , the feathery snow began to fall , insuring several other blissful nights . Between dances they looked out of doors and windows ; when the drifts buried the whole first story of the hotel , the warmth of that great bare room seemed even more genial . `` The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men -- Soft eyes look 'd love to eyes which spake again , And all went merry as a marriage bell . '' When refreshments were served , so pleased was the doctor with his young friends ' pleasure , that he drew them aside to tell them a bit of his family history .