midnight
And the old troubled look came back to Gladys 's face . Lady Betty joined us , and our talk ceased , and soon afterwards we went up into the turret-room to prepare for dinner . After dinner Lady Betty proposed that we should go down the road a little to hear the nightingales ; but Mr. Hamilton informed her with a smile that he had a nightingale on the premises , and , turning to me , he asked me if I were in the mood to give them all pleasure , and if I would sing to them until they told me to stop . I was rather dubious on this latter point , for how could I know , I asked him , laughing , that they might not keep me singing until midnight ? ` You ought to have more faith in our humanity , ' he returned , with much solemnity , as he opened the piano . Gladys crept into her old seat by me , but Mr. Hamilton placed himself in an easy-chair at some little distance . As the room grew dusk , and the moonlight threw strange silvery gleams here and there , I could see him leaning back with his arms crossed under his head , and wondered if he were asleep , he was so still and motionless .