midnight
Even Eleanor failed to see the action . Before Tom had had time to conclude his polite answers as to the state of his health , the bell rang a second time and the maid admitted Paul Stewart . Nor did the evening advance far before Jim and Ken dropped in , then came Dodo and Mr. Dalken , and last but not least the Ashbys stopped in to inquire how everyone was . Such `` stoppings '' usually ended , as on this evening , by their remaining until midnight . Mr. Ashby had news for his two new assistants in business . `` Late in the afternoon before Christmas , I had a ` phone call from Mrs. Courtney , girls . She asked me to make an appointment with you to meet her at my shop , tomorrow morning at eleven .