eleven o'clock
But this was dangerous , as it often led to awkward inquiries as to the speedy consumption of the oil . Candles were safer . Tillie kept them and a box of matches hidden under the mattress . It was eleven o'clock when at last the child , trembling with mingled delight and apprehension , rose from her bed , softly closed her bedroom door , and with extremely judicious carefulness lighted her candle , propped up her pillow , and settled down to read as long as she should be able to hold her eyes open . The little sister at her side and the one in the bed at the other side of the room slept too soundly to be disturbed by the faint flickering light of that one candle . To-night her stolen pleasure proved more than usually engrossing . At first the book was interesting principally because of the fact , so vividly present with her , that Miss Margaret 's eyes and mind had moved over every word and thought which , she was now absorbing .