three o'clock in the morning
Ye were better to me than fayther and mother , and a ' ; ' and she clasped me round the waist , and buried her head in my dress ; ` an I 'll gie my life for ye , darling , and if they hurt ye I 'll kill myself . ' She recovered her sterner mood quickly -- ` Not a word , lass , ' she said , in her old tone . ` Do n't ye try to git away -- they 'll _ kill _ ye -- ye _ ca n't _ do ` t. Leave a ' to me . It wo n't be , whatever it is , till two or three o'clock in the morning . I 'll ha'e them a ' here long afore ; so keep a brave heart -- there 's a darling . ' I suppose she heard , or fancied she heard , a step approaching , for she said -- ` Hish ! ' Her pale wild face vanished , the door shut quickly and softly , and the key turned again in the lock .