one o'clock
Judith had taught them this , but they thought the repeating it a very difficult ceremony , far too hard when they were tired . Their mother went to bed soon afterwards , taking Jem with her , and so did Johnnie , all being anxious to get what sleep they could before the dreaded moment of father 's return . Public-houses were not obliged to close at any special time in those days , and the home-coming , especially on a fair day , was apt to be a terrible affair . It was not till past one o'clock that shouts , broken bursts of singing , and howls of quarrelling announced the break-up of the riotous party , and presently the door bounced open , and with oaths at the darkness , though there was bright moonlight , Dan stumbled in and staggered upstairs , overturning the unlucky screen upon Polly as he did so , cursing and swearing at them all , and ordering his wife to get up and open the door , which he was past finding . He did not attack Judith , though he almost fell over her bed , and the two girls lay trembling , not daring to lift off the screen till the door of the bedroom was shut on them ; and then came the only too well-known sound of their mother scolding and crying , and his swearing and beating her . They were only too much used to such disturbance , and were asleep again before it was over ; but Judith could only lie on , shaking with terror -- not personal -- but at the awful words she heard , and praying that they might not be visited on that unhappy household , but that God would forgive . It was not till the next day when the house was tolerably quiet , and Molly , rather fretful and grumbling , had helped Judith down to her place by the fire , that she ventured the question , `` Molly , you have not a bit more of that pretty wall-paper you gave me for my screen ? ''