midnight
`` I rather guess she can wait till her finger grows to it . You 'd let that child do anything . '' Mr. Pease did not say anything more , but studied the _ Old Farmer 's Almanac _ again , and found out it was likely to be fair weather for the season . It was past midnight , and the hearth fire was raked down , and Comfort 's father and mother and grandmother were all in bed and asleep , when a little figure in a white nightgown , holding a lighted candle , padding softly on little cold bare feet , came down the stairs . Comfort paused in the entry and listened . She could hear the clock tick and her father snore . The best parlor door was on the right .