nearly midnight
Noel stayed up until her father went to bed , then went upstairs at once . She had evidently determined that they should not talk about her . Gratian sat on alone , waiting for her husband ! It was nearly midnight when he came , and she did not tell him the family news till next morning . He received it with a curious little grunt . Gratian saw his eyes contract , as they might have , perhaps , looking at some bad and complicated wound , and then stare steadily at the ceiling . Though they had been married over a year , she did not yet know what he thought about many things , and she waited with a queer sinking at her heart .