midnight
Now there were but three besides Mrs Catanach and Malcolm who did know who was his mother , namely , Miss Horn , Mr Graham , and a certain Mr Morrison , a laird and magistrate near Portlossie , an elderly man , and of late in feeble health . The lawyers the marquis had employed on his death bed did not know : he had , for Florimel 's sake taken care that they should not . Upon what she knew and what she guessed of these facts regarded in all their relations according to her own theories of human nature the midwife would found a scheme of action . Doubtless she saw , and prepared for it , that after a certain point should be reached the very similarity of their designs must cause a rupture between her and Caley ; neither could expect the other to endure such a rival near her hidden throne of influence ; for the aim of both was power in a great family , with consequent money , and consideration , and midnight councils , and the wielding of all the weapons of hint and threat and insinuation . There was one difference , indeed , that in Caley 's eye money was the chief thing , while power itself was the Swedenborgian hell of the midwife 's bliss . Florimel and Lady Clementina Thornicroft , the same who in the park rebuked Malcolm for his treatment of Kelpie , had met several times during the spring , and had been mutually attracted -- Florimel as to a nature larger , more developed , more self supporting than her own , and Lady Clementina as to one who , it was plain , stood in sore need of what countenance and encouragement to good and free action the friendship of one more experienced might afford her . Lady Clementina was but a few years older than Florimel , it is true , but had shown a courage which had already wrought her an unquestionable influence , and that chiefly with the best .