nearly midnight
I left our square `` best '' room till the last ; it made a dramatic ending . I believe I have not mentioned before that I washed down the old plaster with a solution of vinegar -LRB- a remnant from one of Uncle Joe 's barrels -RRB- in order to kill the lime , which , Westbury said , was bad for the sticking qualities of the paste . Perhaps I made my solution a bit too strong for the `` best '' - room walls , or it may be that the plaster there was different -- I don t know . I know that I worked till nearly midnight to get done , Elizabeth holding a pair of lamps , and that when we came down next morning to admire our beautiful green walls by daylight , they were no longer green -- at least , not solidly so , not definitely so . What seemed to us at first a sorrowful mottled complaint in yellow had every-where broken through , and I had the sickening feeling that my work was wasted and must be done over . But presently Elizabeth said , reflectively : `` It is n't so bad just as it is . '' And I said , `` Why , no !