midnight
All at once I thought I recognized a familiar voice . I peeped out , and sure enough it was Edgar Noble whom they were coaxing . He did n't want to go a bit , -- I 'll say that for him , -- but they were determined that he should . I did n't mind his going to dinners and minstrels , of course , but when they spoke of being out until after midnight , or to-morrow morning , and when one beetle-browed , vulgar-looking creature offered to lend him a ` tenner , ' I thought of the mortgage on the Noble ranch , and the trouble there would be if Edgar should get into debt , and I felt I must do something to stop him , especially as he said himself that everything depended on his next examinations . '' `` But how did you accomplish it ? '' asked Mrs. Oliver , sitting up in bed and glowing with interest . `` They sat down by the roadside , smoking and talking it over .