midnight
He determined to keep to this plan , which , of course , would not prevent his returning to New York early enough next day for the first opening of the first shop . He wished there were not so many shops . Unless luck were with him on his search , he might not reach the dryad for days . In spite of all that had happened , midnight was not long past when Peter tiptoed softly through the quiet house at home and opened the door of his own den . He had expected to find the room in darkness , but to his surprise the green-shaded reading lamp on the book-scattered mahogany table was alight , and there in the horsehair-covered rocking-chair sat mother with her inevitable work . Close by the window was wide open , and the night breeze from over the Sound was rhythmically waving the white dimity curtains . The sweetness of home-coming swept over Peter with the perfume of wallflowers which blew in on the wind -- a sweetness almost as poignant as that of fresias .