one in the morning
And they happened to bring into Mr. King 's mind a rush of memories of his youth and his wife . She had married him on faith . They had come to New York fifteen years before , he to get a place as reporter on the _ News-Record _ , she to start a boarding-house ; he doubting and trembling , she with courage and confidence for two . He leaned back in his chair , closed his eyes and opened the book of memory at the place where the leaves most easily fell apart : He is coming home at one in the morning , worn out , sick at heart from the day 's buffetings . As he puts his key into the latch , the door opens . There stands a handsome girl ; her face is flushed ; her eyes are bright ; her lips are held up for him to kiss ; she shows no trace of a day that began hours before his and has been a succession of exasperations and humiliations against which her sensitive nature , trained in the home of her father , a distinguished up-the-state Judge , gives her no protection , `` Victory , '' she whispers , her arms about his neck and her head upon his coat collar . `` Victory !