Midnight
Sad , even to tears , was it , at the bare thought of giving him up . There was yet burning on her pure forehead the hot kiss he had left there a few hours before -- her hand still felt his thrilling touch -- his words of love were in her ears -- she still heard the impassioned tones in which he had uttered his parting `` God bless you ! '' Thus it was with the gentle-hearted girl , exposed , far too soon in life , to influences which stronger spirits than hers could hardly have resisted . Midnight found Mrs. Markland wakeful and thoughtful . She had observed something unusual about Fanny , and noted the fact of her early retirement , that evening , from the family . Naturally enough , she connected this change in her daughter 's mind with the letter received from Mr. Lyon , and it showed her but too plainly that the stranger 's image was fixing itself surely in the young girl 's heart . This conviction gave her pain rather than pleasure .