midnight
She did not even look back . After a moment 's wait , Peter gathered up the reins and Sylvia , vaguely uneasy , and much moved , drove home in a solitary state , which she forgot to enjoy . The next morning there was no arrival , even tardy , of the visitors from the hotel . Instead came a letter , breaking the startling news that Aunt Victoria had been called unexpectedly to the East , and had left on the midnight train , taking Arnold with her , of course . Judith burst into angry expressions of wrath over the incompleteness of the cave which she and Arnold had been excavating together . The next day was the beginning of school , she reminded her auditors , and she 'd have no time to get it done ! Never !