midnight before
The old woman talked of this even after they put her to bed and a doctor who chanced to be at Mrs. Armatage 's party had attended her . The fire , and her bodily illness , had prostrated the old woman . The end of that Christmas party was not as pleasant as the beginning . It was long after midnight before even the children were in their beds and composed for sleep . The party broke up at an earlier hour than might have been expected . Rose slept in the room with Phillis and Alice Armatage . Just as she was dropping to sleep and after her companions were already in dreamland Rose saw the door of the room pushed open .