midnight
Love was merciless ! For she had never known -- nor ever could know now -- the ecstasy of Love . Truly , it conquered ; but it left its prisoners to perish of starvation in the wilderness . A slight sound in the midnight silence ! A timid hand softly trying the door-handle ! She sprang up , dropping the ring upon her table , and turned to see Olga in her nightdress , standing in the doorway . `` I was awake , '' the child explained tremulously .