ten o'clock
And now , to be called on to drive Mrs. Allen to Boston , secretly , and under cover of the night , seemed so much like becoming a party to some act of folly or crime , that he gave way to hesitation , and began to seek for reasons that would justify his playing the lady false . Then came up the image of her sweet , reverent face , as she said so earnestly , `` Nothing wrong , as God is my witness ! '' And his first purpose was restored . Punctually , at half-past ten o'clock , the team of Jacob Perkins drove noiselessly in through the gate , and up the carriage-way to the door of the Allen mansion . No lights were visible in any part of the house . Under the portico were two figures , a man and a woman -- the man holding something in his arms , which , on a closer observation , Jacob saw to be a child . Two large trunks and a small one stood near .