midnight
`` Come , my beloved , haste away , Cut short the hours of thy delay . Fly like a youthful hart or roe Over the hills where spices grow . '' At length the strains of the favorite old tune faded on the ears of the delighted audience . Then they had The Portland Fancy and The Irish Washerwoman and The College Hornpipe , and at last the clock in the carriage house struck midnight and the guests departed in groups of twos and threes and fours , their cheerful voices sounding far down the village street . Osh Popham stayed behind to cover the piano , put out the lanterns , close the doors and windows , and lock the barn , while Mrs. Carey and the Admiral strolled slowly along the greensward to the side door of the house . `` Good-night , '' Osh called happily as he passed them a few minutes later . `` I guess Beulah never see a party such as ourn was , this evenin ' !