nearly midnight
You have been playing with me all through . What is coming ? '' `` A very little more , and you shall hear . This man staid with the Professors till nearly midnight , and then left them on the plea that he would finish the night in the Ranger 's shelter -- '' `` Ranger 's shelter , indeed ! Why -- '' `` Hush , my darling boy , be patient with me . He said he must be up betimes , to run down the rest of the quails you had ordered him to bring you . But before leaving the Professors he beguiled them into giving him up their permit . ''