twelve
o'clock
Good-night ! '' With anger and happiness struggling in my breast for the mastery , I paced that deck for hours . My heart swelled with joy at the knowledge that my darling loved me , but it sank like lead when I considered the difficulties which threatened us if her father persisted in his present determination . At last , just as eight bells was striking -LRB- twelve o'clock -RRB- , I went below to my cabin . My fellow-passenger was fast asleep -- a fact which I was grateful for when I discovered propped against my bottle-rack a tiny envelope with my name upon it . Tearing it open I read the following : -- `` MY OWN DEAREST , -- `` My father has just informed me of his interview with you . I can not understand it or ascribe a reason for it .