midnight
Marija was crying with fright and the children were wailing in sympathy -- little Stanislovas in addition , because the terror of the snow was upon him . Jurgis had nothing to put on but his shoes and his coat , and in half a minute he was out of the door . Then , however , he realized that there was no need of haste , that he had no idea where to go . It was still dark as midnight , and the thick snowflakes were sifting down -- everything was so silent that he could hear the rustle of them as they fell . In the few seconds that he stood there hesitating he was covered white . He set off at a run for the yards , stopping by the way to inquire in the saloons that were open . Ona might have been overcome on the way ; or else she might have met with an accident in the machines .