midnight
` At any rate , the introduction of such a congenial spirit to Sir Walter was a real treat ; Leonard has the very nature to be fired by him , and Aubrey being excessively scandalized at his ignorance , routed a cheap `` Marmion '' out of the little bookshop , and we beguiled a wet afternoon with it ; Aubrey snatching it from me at all the critical passages , for fear I should not do them justice , and thundering out the battle , which stirred the other boy like a trumpet sound . Indeed , Leonard got Mab into a corner , and had a very bad cold in the head when De Wilton was re-knighted ; and when `` the hand of Douglas was his own , '' he jumped up and shouted out , `` Well done , old fellow ! '' Then he took it to himself and read it all over again , introductions and all , and has raved ever since . I wish you could see Aubrey singing out some profane couplet of `` midnight and not a nose , '' or some more horrible original parody , and then dodging apparently in the extremity of terror , just as Leonard furiously charges him . ` But you would have been struck with their discussions over it . Last night , at tea , they began upon the woeful result of the Wager of Battle , which seemed to oppress them as if it had really happened . Did I believe in it ?