midnight
For herself , it seemed to her , she could have borne anything ; but that the atmosphere of the home in which her son was reared should fall short in anything of the utmost ideal possibilities caused her intolerable anguish . It seemed to her a cruel wrong to Caldwell that the love and confidence between his parents should not be perfect . It is probable that more of her personal pain was covered by this pity for her son than she was aware ; but as she looked up at his picture she felt almost as if he were half-orphaned by this estrangement between herself and Arthur , which it were vain for her to attempt to ignore . It was after midnight when she heard the street door open and close ; and a moment later came her husband 's tap . `` I saw the light in your room , as I came down street , '' he said . `` What on earth kept you up so late ? '' `` I was waiting , '' Edith replied , `` to talk with you . ''