midnight
On the rack near me my garden hat and an old Paisley shawl made a grotesque human effigy . I sat back in the low wicker chair and surveyed the hallway . Why not , I considered , do away now with the fear of it ? If I could conquer it like this at midnight , I need never succumb again to it in the light . The cat leaped to the stand beside me and stood there , waiting . He was an intelligent animal , and I am like a good many spinsters . I am not more fond of cats than other people , but I understand them better .