midnight
It was , of course , possible that they might earn the money there by some form of honest labour . But I could not imagine that Crossan had started one of those ridiculous industries by means of which Government Boards and philanthropic ladies think they will add to the wealth of the Irish peasants . Besides , even if Crossan had suddenly developed symptoms of kindly idiocy , neither wood-carving or lace-making could possibly have made Rose 's freckly faced young man rich enough to buy a gold brooch . The thing puzzled me nearly as much as did the _ Finola 's _ midnight activity . All competent critics appear to agree that art ought to be kept entirely distinct from moral purposes . A picture meant to urge us on to virtue -- and there are such pictures -- is bad art . A play or a novel with a purpose stands condemned at once .