midnight
`` We were happy here before Margaret came , '' I answered ; `` happy as it was possible for mortals to be . How strange that she should have come unasked , remain unurged , without dreaming of the possibility of her being otherwise than a welcome guest ! '' `` There should be laws to prevent households from such intrusions , '' said Ernest , with warmth . `` I consider such persons as great offenders against the peace of society as the midnight robber or the lurking assassin . Margaret Melville cares for nothing but her own gratification . A contemptible love of fun and frolic is the ruling passion of her life . How false , how artificial is that system where there is no redress for encroachments of this kind !