midnight
`` Like as not that same family of owls has been responsible for a lot of that silly talk about this place being haunted . People imagine all sorts of things , you know , when they do n't understand queer sounds . '' `` Yes , '' retorted Alec , with a chuckle , `` that 's so , they do , Billy ; and I 've known them to pull their heads under blankets . It 's all very well for you to talk so bravely when the sun 's shining overhead ; but everybody knows how different things look and seem at midnight . We 'll forgive you this time , Billy , because the rest of us , all but Hugh perhaps , were in something of the same boat , I 'm afraid . '' The photographic work went on apace , and as Alec had in times past proven his abilities in this line , he was apparently justified in believing that success was going to crown his present efforts . `` I tell you Aunt Susan will be tickled half to death when she gets prints of these pictures , '' he remarked again and again as he worked , never missing a single object that he considered would lend additional enchantment to the views .