midnight before
This time they moved off without singing , but from the gate came back three cheers for the twins , then three cheers for the Little Colonel , who had found them . Once started to cheering , somebody proposed three for the pillow-case party , and so lustily did they give them , that an old rooster , awakening from sleep as the wheels creaked by , thought it the call of some giant chanticleer , and promptly crowed an answering challenge , that was echoed by every cock in the Valley . It seemed to Betty that that night would never end . It was after midnight before the house grew quiet . Then , whenever she closed her eyes , she could see those ghostly figures dancing before her in a long , white wavering line . After awhile she gave up the attempt to sleep , and lay with her eyes wide open , staring into the darkness , alert , and quivering at the slightest sound . `` I do n't know what makes me so nervous , '' she thought .