midnight
Had there not been a day in which he had vowed to toil , to labour , to sacrifice the very character of his mind , for a union with her ? Was she , after all , was she right to adhere so rigidly to her father 's dying words , and to that vow afterwards confirmed by her own pride and bitterness of soul ? She looked to her father 's portrait for an answer ; and that daring and eloquent face seemed , for the first time , cold and unanswering to her appeal . In such meditations the hours passed , and midnight came on without Constance having quitted her apartment . She now summoned her woman , and inquired if Godolphin was at home . He had come in about an hour since , and , complaining of fatigue , had retired to rest . Constance again dismissed her maid , and stole to his apartment .