midnight
, and when we had 300 _ l _ . , we always vowed we would marry . `` Ah ! '' thought I , `` if I could but go to Somersetshire now , I might boldly walk up to old Smith 's door '' -LRB- he was her grandfather , and a half-pay lieutenant of the navy -RRB- , `` I might knock at the knocker and see my beloved Mary in the parlour , and not be obliged to sneak behind hayricks on the look-out for her , or pelt stones at midnight at her window . '' My aunt , in a few days , wrote a pretty gracious reply to my letter . She had not determined , she said , as to the manner in which she should employ her three thousand pounds , but should take my offer into consideration ; begging me to keep my shares open for a little while , until her mind was made up . What , then , does Mr. Brough do ?