midnight
Low , who by the light of a single candle was bending over the plates of a large quarto , merely raised his eyes and looked at the intruder . The young man 's natural imperturbability , always exasperating to Wynn , seemed accented that morning by contrast with his own over-acted animation . `` Ah ha ! -- wasting the midnight oil instead of imbibing the morning dews , '' said Father Wynn archly , illustrating his metaphor with a movement of his hand to his lips . `` What have we here ? '' `` An anonymous gift , '' replied Low simply , recognizing the father of Nellie by rising from his chair . `` It 's a volume I 've longed to possess , but never could afford to buy .