midnight
`` And Minnie , poor thing , she 'll need a word of advice and comfort now and then , uncle . '' `` And she shall have it , lad , '' replied the captain with a tremendous wink , which was unfortunately lost on the nephew , in consequence of its being night and unusually dark , `` advice and comfort on demand , gratis ; for : -- '' ` Woman , in her hours of ease , Is most uncommon hard to please ; ' `` But she _ must _ be looked arter , ye know , and made of , d'ye see ? so Ruby , boy , farewell . '' Half-an-hour before midnight was the time chosen for the sailing of the sloop _ Termagant _ , in order that she might get away quietly and escape the press-gang . Ruby and his uncle had taken the precaution to go down to the harbour just a few minutes before sailing , and they kept as closely as possible to the darkest and least-frequented streets while passing through the town . Captain Ogilvy returned by much the same route to his sister 's cottage , but did not attempt to conceal his movements . On the contrary , knowing that the sloop must have got clear of the harbour by that time , he went along the streets whistling cheerfully .