midnight
`` I 'm not going to try . If you want to go to the dogs -- go . Why should I put out a hand to stop you ? '' These amenities having reëstablished them in their mutual esteem , they chatted lazily and spasmodically till past midnight , with more smoke than fire in the conversation . At last Peter began to go , and in course of time actually did take up his umbrella . Not long after , Lancelot conducted him softly down the dark , silent stairs , holding his bedroom candle-stick in his hand , for Mrs. Leadbatter always turned out the hall lamp on her way to bed . The old phrases came to the young men 's lips as their hands met in a last hearty grip . ''