midnight
So saying , Mr Cupples left the room before Alec could get near him with a word or a sign of gratitude . But sorry and ashamed as he was , his spirits soon returned . Congratulation restored him to his worse self ; and ere long he felt that he had deserved well of the community . The hostess turned him out with the last few at midnight , for one of the professors was provost ; and he went homewards with another student , who also lived in the new town . The two , however , not having had enough of revelry yet , turned aside into a lane , and thence up a court leading to a low public-house , which had a second and worse reputation . Into this Alec 's companion went . Alec followed .