midnight
When I did reach the body of the car and looked out of the window , a sight met my gaze that might have made a less sinful man , than one who had spent the best part of his life on railways , give vent to comments that I am persuaded would not appear quite seemly in print . Our car was wedged well-nigh up to the windows in a huge drift , while the wind , which had whipped the harassed snow into fragments as fine as dust , caught up great clouds of the dismembered flakes , and with triumphant shrieks drove them against the panes of glass . As I stood glaring at this inspiring picture , Fielding joined me and said , as he , too , feasted his eyes on the scene : `` A villainous day ! we shall be lucky if we get home by midnight . A lovely way to spend Christmas shut in like rats in a trap ! If we only had our cook to do up the little food we have , it would not be so hard on us . '' This last reflection was uttered in such a doleful key that I had considerable difficulty in not laughing outright , for my superior officer was a man of imposing breadth , and I knew his one weakness was the love of a good meal .