midnight
`` All the world has a holiday in the middle of the summer . '' `` That 's true enough , '' said Verena ; `` but then we had holidays for over a year , and Aunt Sophia says we must begin at once . She is quite right , I 'm sure ; although of course we scarcely like it . And anyhow , Nancy , she wo n't allow us to go to a midnight picnic ; there 's no use thinking about it . '' `` But suppose you do n't ask her . Of course , if she 's an old maid she 'll refuse . Old maids are the queerest , dumpiest things on the earth .