midnight
Silently we stole away , and in my mind from that moment my faith in Joe never wavered . Not once , in spite of sad events that came to pass later on , when even I , his staunchest friend , had to recall to memory that kneeling little form in the silence of the night , alone with his God , in order to stifle the cruel doubts of his truth that were forced upon us all by circumstances I must soon relate . The famous dinner passed off well . Joe was splendid ; his midnight practice had brought its reward , and he moved about so swiftly , and anticipated everybody 's wants so well , that some of my friends asked me where I got such a treasure of a page ; he must have had a good butler or footman to teach him , they said ; he is evidently used to waiting on many guests . I was proud of Joe . The next day he came to me with more than a sovereign in silver , and told me the gentlemen had been so very kind to him , `` and a ` most every one had given him somethin' , tho ' he never arst , or waited about , as some fellers did , as if they would n't lose sight of a gent till he paid 'em . But , '' said Joe , `` they would giv ' it me ; and one gent , he follered me right up the passage , he did , and sez , ` Ere , you small boy , ' he sez , and he give me a whole ` arf-crown .