eleven o'clock
Even Frank had his churlish delicacies ; he never reminded her of how much she had once loved him . For that Marie was grateful to him . While Marie was chattering to the French boys , Amedee called Emil to the back of the room and whispered to him that they were going to play a joke on the girls . At eleven o'clock , Amedee was to go up to the switchboard in the vestibule and turn off the electric lights , and every boy would have a chance to kiss his sweetheart before Father Duchesne could find his way up the stairs to turn the current on again . The only difficulty was the candle in Marie 's tent ; perhaps , as Emil had no sweetheart , he would oblige the boys by blowing out the candle . Emil said he would undertake to do that . At five minutes to eleven he sauntered up to Marie 's booth , and the French boys dispersed to find their girls .