nearly midnight
It would be jolly to be young , to build a nest and , by and by , to see your own white pram wheeled out to take its place in the blowy greenness of the garden . He withdrew his key and entered , closing the door behind him . The house was very still . It was nearly midnight . The maids had gone to bed , leaving lights in the hall and on the landings . As he hung up his hat , the stillness was broken by the sudden ringing of the telephone . It rang in a peevish , scolding manner , as though this were not the first time and it had lost its temper with waiting .