midnight
But he searched his mind in vain for the recollection of a girl at that little window in the pay-box who could by any magic of clothes and swaying steps be transformed even for five minutes into a nymph on fire . But Wilf came up and he had to let her go -- felt , indeed , no particular desire to detain her ; for Caroline greeted her admirer with such real relief that he had no doubt of her feelings . She just caught hold of Wilf 's arm and began at once to move in time to the music , while that gratified young man nodded jauntily over her shoulder to Wilson and sailed off , thinking himself very grown-up and experienced and important -- a man with a female for whom he was responsible -- one of the initiate . Almost immediately after that Wilson went away , but it was three hours later before Caroline and Wilf , having danced their fill , emerged into the coolness of the midnight air . As they walked down the dim promenade together , Wilf was still talking about Wilson . `` Some chaps say he is so stand-offish , but I always hold that people treat you as you treat them . And if the fellows say anything of the sort to me in the train , to-morrow , I shall just tell them they 're wrong .