midnight
At the selfsame moment the clock on the mantelpiece chimed the hour of midnight . Trix got to her feet . `` My dearest , '' exclaimed Mrs. Arbuthnot , `` not gone to bed yet ! And all the beauty sleep before midnight , they tell us . Not that you need it except in the way of preservation , dearest . For I always did tell you , regardless of making you conceited which I do not think I do do , that I have admired you from the time you were in your cradle . Well , food is the next best thing to sleep , so come and have a sandwich and some sherry .