midnight
`` Much terrible more worse than since , '' from which they gathered that it was one of the worst storms ever seen in Tokyo . O'Haru brought in lights and presently returned at the head of a procession of maids with trays of food ; though whether it was luncheon or supper time it was impossible to tell . The clocks had all stopped in the earthquake and it was still as black as night . It might have been midnight or midday for all they knew . The girls preferred to remain in the library , which seemed to them more protection than the other rooms , and O'Haru drew up three tables and arranged the trays with great deftness and celerity . `` Papa did n't come ? '' asked Billie , noticing the third table .