midnight
called Polly from the stairs : `` an old friend whom I picked up in the woods like a wild-flower and brought home to you . '' -LRB- `` Wild-flower is a good name for him , '' she thought . -RRB- Mrs. Oliver was delighted to see Edgar , but after the first greetings were over , Polly fancied that she had not closed the front door , and Edgar offered to go down and make sure . In a second Polly crossed the room to her mother 's side , and whispered impressively , `` Edgar _ must _ be kept here until after midnight ; I have good reasons that I will explain when we are alone . Keep him somehow , -- anyhow ! '' Mrs. Oliver had not lived sixteen years with Polly without learning to leap to conclusions . `` Run down and ask Mrs. Howe if she will let us have her hall-bedroom tonight , '' she replied ; `` nod your head for yes when you come back , and I 'll act accordingly ; I have a request to make of Edgar , and am glad to have so early an opportunity of talking with him . ''