midnight
The convalescent ward slept late ; the nurse and Polly strictly obeyed orders . Nobody cared , however , and unusual gayety prevailed at the tardy breakfast , to match the bright September morning and the good news of Colonel Gresham . For word had come up from Dr. Dudley that the Colonel was going to get well . Of course the children eagerly heard the story of Polly 's midnight trip in the physician 's arms through the fearful storm . It had to be told over and over again , and the more daring ones wished they had been awake to see it all . The details of what had taken place in the sick-room Polly wisely withheld ; but the girls and boys were undoubtedly more interested in the account of the lightning 's striking the familiar big oak tree than they would have been in the more important part of that night 's strange story . It was not many weeks afterward that Dr. Dudley brought Polly a message .