midnight
There was only a night light in the bedroom ; the covers were still tumbled back from her sudden flight toward the rioting youngsters in the hall . She got back into her bed , and opened her book . But for a long time she neither slept nor read ; her eyes widened at the faintest sound of the summer night ; her heart thumped madly when the curtains whispered at the window , or the wicker chairs gave the faintest creak . It had not been only for Richard that the midnight hour of responsibility and informality shared had had its thrill . One o'clock . Harriet closed her book and snapped off her light . But first she went to the window , and leaned out into the sweet darkness .