midnight
` And he was n't even sick ! ' said Lance , holding up his hands . ` He had n't that excuse , ' laughed Cherry . ` However , midnight fishing is not indispensable ! I should like to have seen how he looked at Vale Leston . ' Lance was in great hopes that Felix would betray the possibilities , and mayhap but for his presence , prudence might have evaporated beneath the warm breath of Cherry 's sympathy ; but the answer was only a discreet laugh and reply , ` Like a man who wanted his sister ! I wish I could just fill your eyes with the loveliness of it , Cherry ; ' and in the midst of his description , in came Sister Constance , bringing with her Sister Emmeline -LRB- sister in blood as well as religion , -RRB- wanting to hear about the nephews , and the Kitten 's Tail adventure , and amused to find Lance a little shy about it -- certainly not disposed to dwell on it with his usual unceremonious drollery of narrative .