midnight
`` Last evening , being Friday evening , we were at work very late on our Saturday 's supplement , and a Christmas story in it . Very often we have to work on Christmas night , if the next day is a week day ; and every Sunday night -- that is , from twelve midnight , when the Sabbath ends -- we have to work to get out Monday morning 's paper . '' `` Oh , yes ; of course , '' said Fabian . `` Well , I never have had a whole holiday since I have been in the _ Watch _ office ; but last night , about half-past ten , after the paper had gone to press , the foreman came to me , paid my wages up to the first of January , and told me that I need not return to the office at midnight after Sunday , but might have leave of absence until Monday morning , so as to have time to go and spend Christmas with my friends if I wished to do so . '' Just then Clarence Rockharrt joined them and said , anxiously : `` Mother , dear , I think you had better get into the carriage . It is very bleak out here , and you might take cold . '' Mrs. Rockharrt at once took the arm of her youngest and best-beloved son and let him lead her away to the spot where the comfortable family coach awaited them .