midnight
Jumbles always accompanied Uncle Geoffrey in his rounds . He used to take his place in the gig with undeviating punctuality ; nothing induced him to desert his post when the night-bell rang . He would rouse up from his sleep , and go out in the coldest weather . We used to hear his deep bark under the window as they sallied out in the midnight gloom . The morning after we arrived , Allan and I made a tour of inspection through the house . There were only three rooms on the first floor -- Uncle Geoffrey 's , with its huge four-post bed ; a large front room , that we both decided would just do for mother ; and a smaller one at the back , that , after a few minutes ' deliberation , I allotted to Carrie . It caused me an envious pang or two before I yielded it , for I knew I must share a large upper room with Jack ; the little room behind it must be for Dot , and the larger one would by-and-by be Allan 's .