midnight
Gervaise said nothing ; her eyes were fixed on vacancy . She shook her head slowly , as if in reply to her own thoughts . `` Pray make haste , '' exclaimed Virginie fretfully . `` I do not care to have this scrubbing going on until midnight . '' Gervaise returned to her work . With her two hands clasped around the handle of the brush she pushed the water before her toward the door . After this she had only to rinse the floor after sweeping the dirty water into the gutter .