midnight
I should like to flatter myself that I 'm the cause , but I know better . '' `` I must be a gloomy person ordinarily if there seems any change to-night . Do n't be foolish , Thomas ; I 've had no fortune left me ; I never shall have . '' She felt not unlike one with a fortune , however , a fortune of unknown character about to be made known to her , as , shortly after midnight -- Dorothy kept comparatively early hours when she went to dances -- she opened the door of her room again . Her first glance was for the letter . There it stood as she had left it . More than once during the evening she had caught herself fearing that something might happen to it in her absence .