midnight
He was warmly and devotedly attached to his father and sisters , and whatever bitterness found its way into his heart was from seeing them enduring the many trials of poverty . All his enthusiasm for the service in which he was about to enter was , therefore , barely sufficient to overcome the sorrow of parting with those , whom alone of all the world he loved ; and when the moment drew nigh for his departure , he forgot the bright illusions by which he had so often fed his hopes , and could only think of the grief of separation . His candle had burned down nearly to the socket , when he arose and looked at his watch . It was all dark as midnight without , although nigh six o'clock . He opened the window , and a thin snowdrift came slanting in , borne on a cutting north wind ; he closed it hastily , and shuddered as he thought of the long and lonely march before him . All was silent in the house as he dressed himself and prepared for the road . With noiseless step he drew near his father 's door and listened ; everything was still .