midnight
`` Hush , I 've not finished ! I did my best for her , poor Blaisette . For a minute she knew me and she tried to thank me ; and very soon she fell asleep . '' `` And he came back at midnight ? '' `` No , not till the middle of Christmas Day ; and then he was half drunk . Since then he has hardly been near the house ; but he has not left Lihou . He has been about the stables , and come into the kitchen to get his meals once or twice ; and he is drinking , drinking all the time .