midnight
But the evenings in the hotel , when dancing was not in order , were -- English . The provincial imagination was set upon a throne and worshipped heavily through incense of the stupidest conventions possible . Hibbert used to go back early to his room in the post office to work . `` It is a mistake on my part to have _ realised _ that there is any conflict at all , '' he thought , as he crunched home over the snow at midnight after one of the dances . `` It would have been better to have kept outside it all and done my work . Better , '' he added , looking back down the silent village street to the church tower , `` and -- safer . '' The adjective slipped from his mind before he was aware of it .