midnight
They were singing with drunken voices , each on his own account , and swearing at one another , so that Olga could only shudder and say : `` Oh , holy Saints ! '' She was amazed that the abuse was incessant , and those who were loudest and most persistent in this foul language were the old men who were so near their end . And the girls and children heard the swearing , and were not in the least disturbed by it , and it was evident that they were used to it from their cradles . It was past midnight , the kilns on both sides of the river were put out , but in the meadow below and in the tavern the merrymaking still went on . The old father and Kiryak , both drunk , walking arm-in-arm and jostling against each other 's shoulders , went to the barn where Olga and Marya were lying . `` Let her alone , '' the old man persuaded him ; `` let her alone ... . She is a harmless woman ... .