about
midnight
Her father was gone . Midnight was approaching , but the place was gayly lighted , for this was Saturday night , and the women , who could only get what was left of their husbands ' earnings on their return from the public-houses , were eagerly buying and chaffering , and making what preparations they could for the coming Sabbath . No one molested or looked at Bet as she walked rapidly back to Paradise Row . She reached her destination about midnight , to find the whole house in what seemed to her the most awful state of uproar . Shouts and eager voices filled the air ; loud laughter , screams of -- `` Hurrah ! Well done ! Do it again , Mother Bunch ! ''