What did it all mean?
They realised that now they were looking at each other under a great white light.

It seemed to them as if the brightness of the moon had been increased, and was as resplendent as that of the sun.

It was in reality the daybreak, a slight shade of which already tinged with purple the tops of the elm-trees in the neighbouring gardens.

What?
It could not be possible that the dawn had come?
They were astonished by it, for they did not realise so long a time had passed since they began to talk together on the balcony.

She had as yet told him nothing, and he had so many things he wished to say! "Oh, stay one minute more, only one minute!" he exclaimed.
The daylight advanced still faster--the smiling morning, already warm, of what was to be a hot day in summer.