midnight
When little Em ' ly grew more courageous , and talked -LRB- but still bashfully -RRB- across the fire to me , of our old wanderings upon the beach , to pick up shells and pebbles ; and when I asked her if she recollected how I used to be devoted to her ; and when we both laughed and reddened , casting these looks back on the pleasant old times , so unreal to look at now ; he was silent and attentive , and observed us thoughtfully . She sat , at this time , and all the evening , on the old locker in her old little corner by the fire -- Ham beside her , where I used to sit . I could not satisfy myself whether it was in her own little tormenting way , or in a maidenly reserve before us , that she kept quite close to the wall , and away from him ; but I observed that she did so , all the evening . As I remember , it was almost midnight when we took our leave . We had had some biscuit and dried fish for supper , and Steerforth had produced from his pocket a full flask of Hollands , which we men -LRB- I may say we men , now , without a blush -RRB- had emptied . We parted merrily ; and as they all stood crowded round the door to light us as far as they could upon our road , I saw the sweet blue eyes of little Em ' ly peeping after us , from behind Ham , and heard her soft voice calling to us to be careful how we went . ` A most engaging little Beauty ! '