about midnight
Of course these two had much to talk about -- ladies generally have in such circumstances -- and they were later than usual in going to bed . Mr Bones was therefore , much against his will , obliged to delay the execution of his plans . Little dreaming that two admirers lay in ambush about fifty yards off , he retired to a dark corner behind a bit of old wall , and there , appropriately screened by a laurel bush , lit his pipe and enjoyed himself . `` My dear , '' said Miss Stivergill to her friend about midnight , `` we must go to bed . Do you go up to my room ; I 'll follow after looking round . '' It was the nightly practice of this lady to go over her premises from cellar to garret , to make quite sure that the servant had fastened every bolt and bar and lock . She began with the cellars .