midnight
How glad I am to know it . ' ` Well , ' cried the Doctor , bustling in . ` Here we are , all ready for Alfred , eh ? He ca n't be here until pretty late -- an hour or so before midnight -- so there 'll be plenty of time for making merry before he comes . He 'll not find us with the ice unbroken . Pile up the fire here , Britain ! Let it shine upon the holly till it winks again .