midnight
Presently the ladies rose , and when they had left the room , the host asked Gibbie to ring the bell . He obeyed with alacrity , and a servant appeared . She placed the utensils for making and drinking toddy , after Scotch custom , upon the table . A shadow fell upon the soul of Gibbie : for the first time since he ran from the city , he saw the well-known appointments of midnight orgy , associated in his mind with all the horrors from which he had fled . The memory of old nights in the street , as he watched for his father , and then helped him home ; of his father 's last prayer , drinking and imploring ; of his white , motionless face the next morning ; of the row at Lucky Croale 's , and poor black Sambo 's gaping throat -- all these terrible things came back upon him , as he stood staring at the tumblers and the wine glasses and the steaming kettle . `` What is the girl thinking of ! '' exclaimed the minister , who had been talking to his next neighbour , when he heard the door close behind the servant .