midnight
Onward , onward , onward , over the still stream , winding its way to the great deep , they move ; and again the music echoes and re-echoes through the forest , over the lawn ; dying away in chimes that faintly play around us . The sudden changes in the heavens , -- monitor of things divine , -- call up in Lorenzo 's feelings the reverses of fortune that will soon take place on the plantation . He had never before recognised the lesson conveyed by heavenly bodies ; and such was the effect at that moment that it proved a guardian to him in his future career . It was near midnight when the barge reached the plantation . Fires were lighted on the bank , negroes were here and there stretched upon the ground , sleeping with such superlative comfort that it landed ere they awoke . One by one the parties returned for their homes ; and , after shaking hands with Marston , taking an affectionate adieu of Franconia -LRB- telling her he would call on the morrow -RRB- , lisping a kind word to the old negroes , Lorenzo ordered a horse , and left for the city . He took leave of the plantation , of its dearest associations , like one who had the conflict of battle before him , and the light of friendship behind .