midnight
Neither did I consider at all how my cousin came to be at Court , nor whether any evil had yet come to her . I did not even consider that I did not know whether she were but just come , or had been there a great while . I considered only that she must be got out of it -- and how to set about it . I might have stood and paced there till midnight , had not one of the sentinels at the water-gate -- placed there I suppose , as Mr. Chiffinch had told me just now , as an additional security , after nightfall -- stepped out from his place and challenged me . I had had the word , of course , as I came in ; and I gave it him , and he was contented . But I was not . Here , thought I , is my opportunity .