nearly midnight
He had indeed been doubtful from the first . Mrs. Lloyd treated Robert with a soft affection which was almost like that of a mother . One night , when he returned late from a call on Ellen , she sat up waiting for him . He had not called on Ellen before for several months , and it was nearly midnight when he returned . `` Why , Aunt Lizzie , are you up ? '' he cried , as he entered the library door and saw his aunt 's figure , clad in shining black satin , gleaming with jet , in the depths of an easy-chair . Mrs. Lloyd looked up at him with an expression of patient suffering .