midnight
`` That 's why you have the chance to-night that comes once in a lifetime . Take it . '' `` I will ! '' It was just before midnight , after a four-hour period of waiting in the pink mull dress , when came the summons which brought Lilly into the presence of Felix Auchinloss . Cramped from the long period of taut waiting , she was so dry of throat that in spite of constantly sipped water she could only gulp her reply to Miss Neugass 's knock and eagerly inserted head . `` Quick ! He 'll hear you now before they leave . ''