midnight
Still the enormous throng of people stood hushed and motionless , -- not a word , not a sound escaped them , -- there was something positively appalling in such absolute immobility , -- at least it appeared so to Theos , who could not understand this dispassionate behavior on the part of so large and lately excited a multitude . All at once a voice marvellously tender , clear , and pathetic trembled on the silence , -- was it , could it be the voice of Khosrul ? Yes ! but so changed , so solemn , so infinitely sweet , that it might have been some gentle angel speaking : `` Like a fountain of sweet water in the desert , or the rising of the moon in a gloomy midnight , '' he said slowly , -- `` Even so is the hope and promise of the Supremely Beloved ! Through the veiling darkness of the coming ages His Light already shines upon my soul ! O blessed Advent ! ... O happy Future !