midnight
` And you 'll never be sorry for it , ' returned Mrs Jarley . ` I 'm pretty sure of that . So as that 's all settled , let us have a bit of supper . ' In the meanwhile , the caravan blundered on as if it too had been drinking strong beer and was drowsy , and came at last upon the paved streets of a town which were clear of passengers , and quiet , for it was by this time near midnight , and the townspeople were all abed . As it was too late an hour to repair to the exhibition room , they turned aside into a piece of waste ground that lay just within the old town-gate , and drew up there for the night , near to another caravan , which , notwithstanding that it bore on the lawful panel the great name of Jarley , and was employed besides in conveying from place to place the wax-work which was its country 's pride , was designated by a grovelling stamp-office as a ` Common Stage Waggon , ' and numbered too -- seven thousand odd hundred -- as though its precious freight were mere flour or coals ! This ill-used machine being empty -LRB- for it had deposited its burden at the place of exhibition , and lingered here until its services were again required -RRB- was assigned to the old man as his sleeping-place for the night ; and within its wooden walls , Nell made him up the best bed she could , from the materials at hand . For herself , she was to sleep in Mrs Jarley 's own travelling-carriage , as a signal mark of that lady 's favour and confidence .