midnight
He said he supposed he missed his game of whist , and determined to look about him without loss of time for some quiet , respectable club . At eleven he retired with his wife to bed , but could not sleep . He tossed and turned , and turned and tossed , but grew only more and more wakeful and energetic . A little after midnight an overpowering desire seized him to go and wish the children good-night . He slipped on a dressing-gown and stole into the nursery . He did not intend it , but the opening of the door awoke them , and he was glad . He wrapped them up in the quilt , and , sitting on the edge of the bed , told them moral stories till one o'clock .