midnight
Mitchy might at that moment , on the evidence of the eyes Mr. Longdon turned to them and of which his innocent candle-flame betrayed the secret , have found matter for a measure of the almost extreme allowances he wanted them to want of him . They had only to see that the greater window was fast and to turn out the library lamp . It might really have amused them to stand a moment at the open door that , apart from this , was to testify to his conception of those who were not , in the smaller hours , as HE was . He had in fact by his retreat -- and but too sensibly -- left them there with a deal of midnight company . If one of these presences was the mystery he had himself mixed the manner of our young men showed a due expectation of the others . Mitchy , on hearing how little Vanderbank `` cared , '' only kept up a while longer that observant revolution in which he had spent much of his day , to which any fresh sense of any exhibition always promptly committed him , and which , had it not been controlled by infinite tact , might have affected the nerves of those in whom enjoyment was less rotary . He was silent long enough to suggest his fearing that almost anything he might say would appear too allusive ; then at last once more he took his risk .