midnight
I thank you , but I will accept no sacrifices . '' He rose as he spoke , and put out his hand . `` I must be going , '' he said in an indifferent tone . `` I have letters to write that must be mailed by midnight . I am not more than half as bad , Helen , as you have always persisted in thinking . I never made very profound pretensions , but I 've treated every body squarely from my own point of view . If they have regarded my blessings as curses , it was n't my fault , and I am not sufficiently hypocritical to pretend that I think it was .