midnight
They were such good friends . He would miss her , too ; but he would have Harriet and Christine and -- Max . Back in a circle to Max , of course . She insisted , that last evening , on sitting up with him until midnight ushered in Christmas Day . Christine and Palmer were out ; Harriet , having presented Sidney with a blouse that had been left over in the shop from the autumn 's business , had yawned herself to bed . When the bells announced midnight , Sidney roused with a start . She realized that neither of them had spoken , and that K. 's eyes were fixed on her .