midnight before
She did n't get just the effect she anticipated from this lovely performance because Polacco , who is Miss Mason 's husband , came and sat down beside her -- there was nothing spidery about him , thank goodness -- and in a running and vivacious commentary expressed his lively contempt for this opera of Gounod 's . At its best it was bad _ Faust _ . Its least intolerable melodies were quotations from _ Faust _ , -- an assertion which he proved from time to time by singing , and not very softly either , the original themes to the wrath of all who sat within a twenty-five foot radius of them . Mary felt grateful to him for giving her something that was not maddening to think about and after the performance went with him and his wife to supper so that it was well after midnight before she returned to the cottage . It was an ineffable relief to find it dark . Her habit on warm nights was to sleep on the gloucester swing in the screened veranda and she made it her bed to-night , though beyond a short uneasy doze of two , she did n't sleep at all . At half past eight or so , just after she had sat down to breakfast , she heard her father coming down the stairs .