midnight
_ Go on _ , thou gentlest of thy sex , _ and charm me with that angel voice _ ! For though thou dealest in threats , abuse , and proud defiance , _ it is heaven to hear thee _ . '' Such was the courtship that passed between our heroine and her triumphant admirer . They had new proceeded twenty miles , and the midnight bell had tolled near half an hour . They had passed through one turnpike , and Delia had endeavoured by cries and prayers to obtain some assistance . But the person who opened to them was alone , and though ever so desirous , could not have resisted such a cavalcade . Beside this , the pimp told him a plausible story of a wanton wife , and an injured husband , with the particulars of which we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers .