midnight
In vain , -- futile , -- no use , -- all up for to-night ! '' While the poet , headed off in this way by the poverty of his native tongue , sought inspiration by retiring into the world of dreams , -- went to bed , in short , his more fortunate rival was just entering the village , where he was to make his brief residence at the house of Deacon Rumrill , who , having been a loser by the devouring element , was glad to receive a stray boarder when any such were looking about for quarters . For some reason or other he was restless that evening , and took out a volume he had brought with him to beguile the earlier hours of the night . It was too late when he arrived to disturb the quiet of Mrs. Hopkins 's household , and whatever may have been Clement 's impatience , he held it in check , and sat tranquilly until midnight over the pages of the book with which he had prudently provided himself . `` Hope you slept well last night , '' said the old Deacon , when Mr. Clement came down to breakfast the next morning . `` Very well , thank you , -- that is , after I got to bed . But I sat up pretty late reading my favorite Scott .