midnight before
`` Oh , by giving the women their own way . The government is a despotism -- you are queen -- surely you will make no further objection to so admirable a system ? '' In good-humored chat like this , in which our landlady , Mrs. Porterfield -- a lady who , though fully sixty-five years of age , was yet of a cheery and chatty disposition -- took considerable part , our first evening passed away . Though fatigued , we sat up until a tolerably late hour , enlivened by the frank spirit of our friend , Kingsley , and inspired by the natural feeling of curiosity which our change of situation inspired It was midnight before we solicited the aid of sleep . The next day was devoted to an examination of our premises and the neighborhood . The result of this examination was such as to render us better satisfied with the change that we had made . We were still young enough to be sensible to the loveliness of novelty .