midnight
Children did not chatter to their parents in days of old as they do now . They might love them never so well , but they held them in reverence and even in awe . They were silent in their presence , as a rule , unless spoken to first , and the habit of conversational intimacy did not grow up until a much later period in their lives . Thus the adventures of Warbel , and his strange midnight visit to their bedchamber , had never been told to Sir Oliver or his wife . All they knew was that the man had taken refuge from the anger of the Lord of Mortimer in one of their woodmen 's huts . They were glad to give him shelter and employment at Chad , and had never regretted the hospitality extended to him ; for he had proved the most faithful of servants , and his devotion to the boys was so great that they could be trusted anywhere in his keeping . As for the anger of his proud neighbour , Sir Oliver had made light of that .