midnight
For although Caroline Brant had proved a good friend to the chums , especially to Billie , they had tried in vain to draw her into their little escapades . She was what the girls usually referred to scornfully as `` a grind , '' yet , strange to say , they all loved her . She willingly helped them with their lessons , had often coached some of the more backward of them for tests , passing them when otherwise they would have hopelessly flunked , and cheerfully helped them out of scrapes when they needed help . So now it was not strange that Laura should expect her to refuse an invitation to this new escapade -- the most forbidden of all forbidden escapades , the midnight feast . `` Well , I 'm going to ask her , anyway , '' Billie said in answer to Laura 's objection . `` The worst she can do is to say she wo n't come . '' `` But you 're going to ask Rose , are n't you ? ''