midnight
it was another story with my love-affair . I had seen and spoken with her alone ; I had ventured boldly ; I had been not ill received ; I had seen her change colour , had enjoyed the undissembled kindness of her eyes ; and now , in a moment , down comes upon the scene that apocalyptic figure with the nightcap and the horse-pistol , and with the very wind of her coming behold me separated from my love ! Gratitude and admiration contended in my breast with the extreme of natural rancour . My appearance in her house at past midnight had an air -LRB- I could not disguise it from myself -RRB- that was insolent and underhand , and could not but minister to the worst suspicions . And the old lady had taken it well . Her generosity was no more to be called in question than her courage , and I was afraid that her intelligence would be found to match . Certainly , Miss Flora had to support some shrewd looks , and certainly she had been troubled .