midnight
And when you stood before me at Dunstanwolde 's side and our eyes met , I could not understand -- nay , I could scarce believe that it had been taken from me . '' There , in her arms , among the flowers and in the sweetness of the sun , he lived again the past , telling her of the days when , knowing his danger , he had held himself aloof , declining to come to her lord 's house with the familiarity of a kinsman , because the pang of seeing her often was too great to bear ; and relating to her also the story of the hours when he had watched her and she had not known his nearness or guessed his pain , when she had passed in her equipage , not seeing him , or giving him but a gracious smile . He had walked outside her window at midnight sometimes , too , coming because he was a despairing man , and could not sleep , and returning homeward , having found no rest , but only increase of anguish . `` Sometimes , '' he said , `` I dared not look into your eyes , fearing my own would betray me ; but now I can gaze into your soul itself , for the midnight is over -- and joy cometh with the morning . '' As he had spoken , he had caressed softly with his hand her cheek and her crown of hair , and such was his great gentleness that 't was as if he touched lovingly a child ; for into her face there had come that look which it would seem that in the arms of the man she loves every true woman wears -- a look which is somehow like a child 's in its trusting , sweet surrender and appeal , whatsoever may be her stateliness and the splendour of her beauty . Yet as he touched her cheek so and her eyes so dwelt on him , suddenly her head fell heavily upon his breast , hiding her face , even while her unwreathing arms held more closely . `` Oh !