midnight
`` Paddy ! '' `` Paddy ! '' cried a dozen frightened ones , and the little group took to their heels . In two minutes the street was as silent as midnight , the only person left being a little old man whose back was bent almost double . He turned and looked after the children and gave a long , deep sigh . Of course you wish to know all about the crooked man whose very shadow caused the children to stop their play and scamper to their homes . You remember I told you that one side of Jefferson Square was occupied by the Convent of the Good Shepherd and the common ?