midnight
`` Well , I must not keep you up any longer , mother dear -- it 's time you were resting . Good-night . '' And with a long embrace and kiss they separated . He had yet fifteen miles to walk to reach the midnight stage that was to convey him to Salem . As he was starting from the house with his bundle in his hand , the sound of a gay laugh came through the distant shrubbery . It was Diana and Bill returning from the husking . Hastily he concealed himself behind a clump of old lilac bushes till they emerged into the moonlight and passed into the house .