midnight
Mrs. Aubrey found her husband 's financial affairs so involved that she relinquished the hope of retaining the little she possessed , and retired to a small cottage on the outskirts of the town , where she endeavoured to support herself and the two dependent on her by taking in sewing . Electra Grey was the orphan child of Mr. Aubrey 's only sister , who , dying in poverty , bequeathed the infant to her brother . He had loved her as well as his own Russell , and his wife , who cradled her in her arms and taught her to walk by clinging to her finger , would almost as soon have parted with her son as the little Electra . For five years the widow had toiled by midnight lamps to feed these two ; now oppressed nature rebelled , the long over-taxed eyes refused to perform their office ; filmy cataracts stole over them , veiling their sadness and their unshed tears -- blindness was creeping on . At his father 's death Russell was forced to quit school , and with some difficulty he succeeded in obtaining a situation in a large dry-goods store , where his labours were onerous in the extreme , and his wages a mere pittance . Though Russell 's employer , Mr. Watson , shrank from committing a gross wrong , and prided himself on his scrupulous honesty , his narrow mind and penurious habits strangled every generous impulse , and , without being absolutely cruel or unprincipled , he contrived to gall the boy 's proud spirit and render his position one of almost purgatorial severity . His eldest son was just Russell 's age , had been sent to various schools from his infancy , was indolent , self-indulgent , and thoroughly dissipated .