nearly nine o'clock before
As they drank the talk grew louder . They were joined by others from the town -- ne'er - do-wells , who hung around the bar -- and others from the mill . And so they drank and sang and danced and played cards and drank again , and threw dice for more drinks . It was nearly nine o'clock before the Bacchanal laugh began to ring out at intervals -- so easily distinguished from the sober laugh , in that it carries in its closing tones the queer ring of the maniac 's . Only the mill men had any cash . The village loafers drank at their expense , and on credit . `` And why should we not drink if we wish , '' said one of them .