midnight
The old sign of the tavern , the Blue Leopard , hung over the mantel-shelf . Mr. Townsend had insisted on hanging it there . He had a curious pride in it . The family sat together until after midnight and nothing unusual happened . Mrs. Townsend began to nod ; Mr. Townsend read the paper ostentatiously . Adrianna and Cordelia stared with roving eyes about the room , then at each other as if comparing notes on terror . George had a book which he studied furtively .