midnight
Considerable excitement prevailed during the day , and the `` midnight escapade '' was the one topic of conversation whenever a group of girls came together ; but it was not until study hours were over in the afternoon that any active measures to `` investigate '' the matter were instituted . Then Katherine was summoned to the principal 's study , where she found the four teachers who had the west wing in charge , and Jennie , assembled . Jennie was rigorously catechised , but had very little to tell . She had overheard something of a plot that promised considerable excitement and fun ; she had also heard some one whisper , `` Monday , at midnight , '' and her curiosity had been raised to the highest pitch , therefore she had been unable to resist being `` in at the finish . '' She could not tell who were the leaders , for she had neither seen nor heard anyone , having slipped into the closet before the crash came . Being hard pressed , however , she admitted that she thought the sophomores were chiefly concerned in the `` racket . '' Katherine was then requested to relate all that she knew about it , whereupon she repeated what she had already told Miss Williams .