midnight
Major Oakshott spoke more kindly than usual to him , being free from fresh irritation at his misdemeanours ; but even thus there was a contrast with the gentler , more persuasive tones of the diplomatist , and no doubt this tended to increase Peregrine 's willingness to be thus handed over . The next question was whether he should go home first , but both the uncle and the friends were averse to his remaining there , amid the unavoidable gossip and chatter of the household , and it was therefore decided that he should only ride over with Dr. Woodford for an hour or two to take leave of his mother and brothers . This settled , Mrs. Woodford found him much easier to deal with . He had really , through his midnight invocation of the fairies , obtained an opening into a new world , and he was ready to believe that with no one to twit him with being a changeling or worse , he could avoid perpetual disgrace and punishment and live at peace . Nor was he unwilling to promise Mrs. Woodford to say daily , and especially when tempted , one or two brief collects and ejaculations which she selected to teach him , as being as unlike as possible to the long extempore exercises which had made him hate the very name of prayer . The Doctor gave him a Greek Testament , as being least connected with unpleasant recollections . `` And , '' entreated Peregrine humbly , in a low voice to Mrs. Woodford on his last Sunday evening , `` may I not have something of yours , to lay hold of , and remember you if -- when -- the evil spirit tries to lay hold of me again ? ''