midnight
Thinking she might have forgotten some kitchen detail and gone downstairs for a moment to see to it , he pulled off his coat and idled quietly enough for a few minutes , when , finding she did not come , he went out upon the landing , candle in hand , and said again `` Soo ! '' `` Yes ! '' came back to him in her voice , from the distant kitchen quarter . `` What are you doing down there at midnight -- tiring yourself out for nothing ! '' `` I am not sleepy ; I am reading ; and there is a larger fire here . '' He went to bed . Some time in the night he awoke .