midnight
The music had ceased for the moment , and the big hall was quite empty , for the dancers had trooped into the dining-room , from which came laughter and chattering voices , and the chink of silver and china . The great front doors were wide open . I slipped unseen into the darkly bright , whispering night . The moon was high in the heavens , for it was past midnight ; the wind was chill upon my shoulders , the dew silvery under my feet . There was an odor abroad -- the ineffable odor of sleepily stirring spring , of young new leaves budding , of tender grass , growing like a baby 's hair . At some distance ahead I could just distinguish the dark figure of the messenger , flitting soundless as a shadow . And then , to my infinite relief , out of the shrubbery stepped Boris , and thrust his doggy nose into my hand .