midnight
He was eager and magnetic ; musical , literary , or religious , according to the company in which he found himself . Martie 's thrilled interest firing him to-night , he exerted himself : told stories in Chinese dialect , in brogue , and with an excellent Scotch burr ; he went to the rickety piano , and from the loose keys , usually set in motion by a nickel in the slot , he evoked brilliant songs , looking over his shoulder with his sentimental bold eyes at the company as he sang . And Martie said to herself , `` Ah -- this IS life ! '' Rodney took her home , the clock in the square booming the half hour after midnight as they went by . And at the side door he told her to look up at the Dipper throbbing in the cool sky overhead . Martie knew what was coming , but she looked innocently up , and went to sleep for the first time in her life with a man 's kiss still tingling on her smiling lips . The cold November weather might have been rosy June ; the dull routine of the Monroe home a life rich and full for Martie now .