midnight
I had given up sleeping in the house , with its squirrel-cage rooms , preferring the soft prairie hay of the barn . But when bedtime came this night Mr. Clerkinwell had not returned , so I sat up to wait for the team . He had told me that he might be late . It was past midnight when he drove up to the barn . `` Good-evening , Judson , '' said he . `` So you waited for me . '' `` Yes , sir , '' I answered .