ten o'clock
Amos told her vaguely that they were `` hussies '' and that she was not to let go of his arm for an instant . Lydia did n't know what a hussy was , but she did n't want to stir an inch from her father 's side because of her fear of drunken men . She was in a quiver of excitement ; torn with pity and doubt when she thought of Charlie Jackson ; speechless with apprehension when she thought of the possibility of Levine 's being defeated . It was close on ten o'clock when the sound of a drum was heard from the direction of the Methodist Church . The crowd started toward the sound , then paused as Binny Bates , the barber , in a stove-pipe hat , mounted on a much excited horse , rode up the street . Binny was a Levine man and the crowd broke into cheers and cat-calls . After Binny came the band , playing for dear life `` Hail the Conquering Hero '' and after the band , two and two a great line of citizens with kerosene torches .