midnight
The two spent a pleasant evening together . They made each other mutually acquainted with the evil omens and the impressions which they had occasioned , and bantered one another a little thereon ; but decided positively that such fore-tokenings for the most part -- betoken nothing at all . As they separated for the night the Assessor pressed Petrea 's hand with the assurance that very rarely had a day given him such a joyous evening . Grateful for these words , and grateful for the hope of soon finding again the lost and wept friend of her youth , Petrea went to rest , but the Assessor remained up late -- midnight saw him still writing . Man and woman ! There is a deal , especially in novels , said about man and woman , as of separate beings . However that may be , human beings are they both -- and as human beings , as morally sentient and thinking creatures , they influence one another for life .