midnight
The selection of a new singer was debated with a zeal which spoke volumes for the interest in the service of the sanctuary , and the money expended in this part of the worship would have supported two or three poorer congregations . The church , moreover , was appointed with a richness beautiful to see . The vestments might have moved the envy of high Roman prelates , and the altar plate shone in gold and precious stones . It was no wonder , then , that a midnight service at the Nativity attracted a crowd . Mrs. Wilson and Wynne had to force a path between ranks of curious sight-seers in order to make their way to the guarded pew of the former , which was well up the main aisle . It came to Maurice suddenly that in his angry mood he was pushing against these worshipers rudely , and that he was venting upon them a fury which had rather increased than diminished in his ride to the church . He was seething with anger ; anger against Mrs. Wilson for having put him in a ludicrous position , at Berenice for her mockery , at Mrs. Staggchase for her satire , and at all the frivolous fools who had stood around , grinning to see him made ridiculous .