midnight
She put the manuscript back in the drawer , went into the dining-room and made a pretence of dining . But very soon she was back again in the study . She sat down under a lamp by the fire and went on reading the book . She knew that Mark would not be home till midnight ; there was plenty of time . She turned the leaves one by one , and presently she forgot the passing of time , she forgot everything in the evil fascination of the book . She was enthralled . She was horror-stricken .