midnight
But the French _ chansons _ , the dainty little melodies with words of infantile innocence , all about leaves and buds , and birds ' - nests and butterflies , pleased him infinitely . He hung over the piano with an enraptured air ; and again his friends made note of his subjugation , and registered the fact for future discussion . How she took the News . It was past midnight when the Tempest carriage drove through the dark rhododendron shrubberies up to the old Tudor porch . There was a great pile of logs burning in the hall , giving the home-comers cheery welcome . There was an antique silver spirit stand with its accompaniments on one little table for the Squire , and there was another little table on the opposite side of the hearth for Mrs. Tempest , with a dainty tea-service sparkling and shining in the red glow . A glance at these arrangements would have told you that there were old servants at the Abbey House , servants who knew their master 's and mistress 's ways , and for whom service was more or less a labour of love .