midnight
A sense of something good impending may have thrilled her poor pulses , though if asked why she found any particular reason for smiling , and throwing off her yoke of worry for a brief spell , she could have given no intelligent answer . Brother Lu bustled up . He seemed very important , indeed . `` Glad to see you , boys , '' he said , holding out his hand , which Thad actually seized eagerly ; although just a few hours before he had been telling himself how delighted he would be to form one of a party of determined fellows who might visit the Hosmer cottage at midnight , and warn the ex-hobo to clear out of the neighborhood on penalty of having something decidedly unpleasant happen to him if he refused . But then that was before Thad had heard the wonderful story which Hugh unleashed , and fired at him as he sat there gaping and listening and slyly pinching his thigh so as to learn whether he were awake , or asleep and dreaming . `` Looks like you folks might be going on a picnic somewhere ? '' remarked Hugh , taking his cue from something Brother Lu had said to him before .