midnight
And I am ! Good God , I should think I am . '' But he spoke the last word to empty air -- and the next moment he could hear the click of the gate as she slipped away from him up the dark drive . _ Chapter XV _ _ The Cinema _ On Monday evening Caroline stood at the corner of Emerald Avenue , not sure whether to go down it or not , for she had not visited the Creddles since Mr. Creddle so ignominiously took her back to the Cottage at midnight . While she was hesitating a cab-load of sunburnt children , accompanied by a stout , jolly-looking mother , went by on their way to the railway station . It was the beginning of that exodus which would grow more general every day during the next fortnight until the season was over . Already cards had appeared in one or two windows , and those who had let their houses furnished for `` August month '' while they found shelter in tumble-down cottages , tents or converted railway carriages , were coming back -- glad now the money was in their pockets that they had borne the discomfort , though each year on departing they said `` Never again ! ''