midnight
He was very sorry , but for several reasons he was compelled to refuse all applications to see Mr. Ray until the morrow . Mrs. Stannard in her indignation could hardly find words to thank Mr. Warner for the courtesy he personally displayed in the matter . She sent a servant to the corporal of the guard to ask him to say to Mr. Blake that she desired earnestly to see him a moment ; the corporal said he would as soon as he had posted the next sentry ; but he forgot it until long after eleven , owing to an excitement over in the band quarters , and then Blake thought it best to wait until morning , and so it happened that one woman whose heart was full of faith in and sympathy for Ray was balked of her desire to send him full assurance of her thought for him . She could not sleep , however , and at midnight walked alone down the row and asked the soldier at the gate to give this little note for Ray to the sentinel within , but the man came sadly and respectfully back . The sentry dare not pass it in : it was against his orders . She looked wistfully at the dim light showing through the curtains of the front room , but turned wearily away . A dim light was burning , too , in Mrs. Truscott 's room up the row , and she tapped softly at the door , thinking that , like herself , they might be still awake ; but no answer came , and , at last , she went to her own lonely quarters .