midnight
During Rupert 's absences that curious intimacy which Molly had contemptuously noted between her sister and sister-in-law displayed itself in more conspicuous manner . Miss Landale 's long sallow visage sported its airs of mystery and importance , its languishing leers undisguisedly , so long as her brother Rupert 's place was empty ; and though her visits to the rector 's grave were now almost quotidian , she departed upon them with looks of wrapt importance , and , returning , sought Madeleine 's chamber -LRB- when that maiden did not herself stroll out to meet her in the woods -RRB- , her countenance invariably wreathed with suppressed , yet triumphant smiles , instead of the old self-assertive dejection . * * * * * The 15th of March of that year was to be a memorable day in the lives of so many of those who then either dwelt in Pulwick , or had dealings on that wide estate . Miss Landale , who had passed the midnight hour in poring over the delightful wickedness of Lara , and , upon at length retiring to her pillow , had had a sentimental objection to shutting out the romantic light of the moon by curtain or shutter , was roused into wakefulness soon after dawn by a glorious white burst of early sunshine . As a rule , the excellent soul liked to lie abed till the last available moment ; but that morning she was up with the sun . When dressed she drew a letter from a secret casket with manifold precautions as though she were surrounded with prying eyes , and , placing it in her reticule , hastened forth to seek the little lonely disused churchyard by the shore . She afterwards remarked that she could never forget in what agitation of spirits and with what strange presentiment of evil she was led to this activity at so unwonted an hour .