midnight
`` Do n't ask , '' he almost groaned ; `` and yet you must know it , sooner or later . '' `` Do tell everything , Gerald , '' implored Ruth , who , now that the terror and excitement were over , stood pale and shivering . `` It was partly my fault , you know ; I ought not to have made that promise . '' Thus entreated , Gerald told them the story of his faults and follies ; of his midnight carousals and their discovery by Ruth , of his overwhelming love of pleasure , of half-hours stolen from the office during his father 's absence and of work neglected . He went on to say that the chief clerk had told him , a few days before , that he really must inform Mr. Woburn how shamefully neglected were the books under his son 's care ; that he dreaded his father 's anger , and promised to write up the books and finish his work before the end of January . For this purpose he had brought home the books and worked at them stealthily by night until drowsiness overtook him , and he probably knocked over the candle which had done the mischief . Mr. Woburn felt more anger than he dared to show at such a time , just after his son 's deliverance from a horrible fate , and he turned the subject by applauding Ruth 's presence of mind and bravery .