midnight
A desire came upon him to know what was in the letter , and he began to argue with himself as to his `` duty '' -- that was the word he used . Finally he concluded that as Godfrey was still so young and so open to bad influences from that quarter , this duty clearly indicated that he should read the letter before it was forwarded . In obedience to this high impulse he opened and read it , with the result that by the time it was finished there was perhaps no more angry clergyman in the British Empire . The description of himself looking as though he had eaten a hatful of crab-apples ; the impious remarks about the Thirty-nine Articles ; the suggestion that Godfrey , instead of going to bed as he had ordered him to do that evening , was wandering about London at midnight ; the boldly announced intention of the writer of not going to church -- indeed , every word of it irritated him beyond bearing . `` Well , '' he said aloud , `` I do not think that I am called upon to spend twopence-halfpenny '' -LRB- for Isobel had forgotten the stamp -RRB- `` in forwarding such poisonous trash to a son whom I should guard from evil . Hateful girl ! At any rate she shall have no answer to this effusion . ''