Twelve o'clock
Mrs. Mansfield realized that the girl had not enjoyed her evening , but she was too wise to ask her why . Indeed she was not much given to the putting of intimate questions to Charmian . So she changed the subject quietly , and they were soon at home . Twelve o'clock was striking as they entered the house . The evening , Mrs. Mansfield thought , had passed quickly . She was a bad sleeper , and seldom went to bed before one , but she never kept a maid sitting up for her . `` I 'm going to read a book , '' she said to Charmian , with her hand on the door of the small library on the first floor , where she usually sat when she was alone .