midnight
She was permitted to listen only , and she was most strongly attracted to the very places where she might expect to hear rebellious words and proposals . There was a mysterious charm in this cruel excitement and she felt as if she were deprived of something desirable when many a fire was extinguished , the soldiers went to sleep , and conversation ceased . She now turned for the last time toward the road leading from Tanis ; but nothing was stirring there save the sentries pacing to and fro . She had not yet doubted Hosea 's coming ; for the summons she had sent to him in the name of the Lord had undoubtedly reached him ; but now that the stars showed her it was past midnight , the thought came vividly before her mind of the many years he had spent among the Egyptians , and that he might perhaps deem it unworthy of a man to obey the call of a woman , even if she uplifted her voice in the name of the Most High . She had experienced humiliations enough that day , why should not this be decreed also ? Deeply disturbed and tortured by such thoughts , Miriam walked toward Amminadab 's house to seek repose ; but just as she was in the act of crossing the threshold , she paused and again listened for sounds coming from the north . Hosea must arrive from that direction .