midnight
During the bright hours of the day the aristocrats , in the stern , were shrouded from the sun by a delightful awning ; but , forward , the passengers sought the shade of the loose idle sails , or screened themselves from the fierce rays as best they might among the hatchways and woodwork . But it was when the burning sun had hidden himself , when the short twilight had disappeared , and the heavens were alive and alight with stars , that all the world of the ship would be crowded on the upper deck . There they would remain , long after the lamps below had been extinguished , some of them sleeping through the whole night in the comparative coolness of the air . But it was from eight , when tea would be over , till midnight , that the hum of voices would be thickest , and the tread of those who walked for their exercise the most frequent . At such times Caldigate would be often alone ; for though he had made acquaintances , and had become indeed intimate with some of those around him , he had never thrust himself into the life of the ship as Shand had done . Charades were acted in the second cabin , in which Shand always took part , -- and there were penny readings , at which Shand was often the reader . And he smoked much and drank somewhat with those who smoked and drank .