midnight
`` If you would give me your address -- '' `` Oh , not at all , not at all ; '' and he wrapped his greatcoat over his knees . Then the Four Serious Songs rang shallow in Margaret 's ears . Brahms , for all his grumbling and grizzling , had never guessed what it felt like to be suspected of stealing an umbrella . For this fool of a young man thought that she and Helen and Tibby had been playing the confidence trick on him , and that if he gave his address they would break into his rooms some midnight or other and steal his walkingstick too . Most ladies would have laughed , but Margaret really minded , for it gave her a glimpse into squalor . To trust people is a luxury in which only the wealthy can indulge ; the poor can not afford it . As soon as Brahms had grunted himself out , she gave him her card and said , `` That is where we live ; if you preferred , you could call for the umbrella after the concert , but I did n't like to trouble you when it has all been our fault . ''