midnight
With what a cruel smile I repeated that ` Naught ! ' My father was not at home ; but my mother , who had for some time past been in an almost continual state of dumb exasperation , noticed my gloomy and heroic aspect , and said to me at supper , ` Why are you sulking like a mouse in a meal-tub ? ' I merely smiled condescendingly in reply , and thought , ` If only they knew ! ' It struck eleven ; I went to my room , but did not undress ; I waited for midnight ; at last it struck . ` The time has come ! ' I muttered between my teeth ; and buttoning myself up to the throat , and even pulling my sleeves up , I went into the garden . I had already fixed on the spot from which to keep watch .