nearly midnight
The little seamstress nodded to Walter , and he hailed a passing cab . All the time , even after they were inside the vehicle , she never relaxed her hold of Liz , but they accomplished the distance to Teen 's poor little home in complete silence . Liz felt and looked like a prisoner ; Walter 's face wore a sad and downcast expression ; the little seamstress only appeared jubilant . It was nearly midnight when they ascended the long stair to the little garret , and Liz had to pause many times in the ascent to recover her breath and to let her cough have vent . She grumbled all the way up ; but when Teen broke up the fire and lit the gas she sank into an old basket-chair with a more contented expression on her face . ` Noo , ye 'll hae a cup o ' tea in a crack , ' Teen said blithely . ` I 've gotten a new teapot , Liz ; the auld yin positively fell to bits .