midnight
At the time of which I am now writing she was six years old -- a rather quiet , solemn child -- though she had a smile upon occasions , which was well worth going to see . For some time back she had heard her aunts speaking of `` Poor Josiah ! '' She had always stood in awe of her father who seemed taller and gaunter than ever . Mary seldom saw him , but she knew that every night after dinner he went to his den and often stayed there -LRB- she had heard her aunts say -RRB- until long after midnight . `` If he only had some cheerful company , '' she once heard Aunt Cordelia remark . `` But that 's the very thing he seems to shun since poor Martha died , '' sighed Miss Patty , and dropping her voice , never dreaming for a moment that Mary was listening , she added with another sigh , `` If there had only been a boy , too ! '' All these things Mary turned over in her mind , as few but children can , especially when they have dreamy eyes and often go a long time without saying anything .