midnight
Julia pleaded hard with him not to go there , for she feared the influence of such a place upon him , but he would listen to no argument . His wife soon began to observe indications of a change for the worse in his character . He grew more pettish and dissatisfied , and frequently acted towards her with great unkindness . He was rarely , if ever , at home before midnight , and then repulsed every affectionate act or word . Several times he came in intoxicated , and once , while in that state , he struck her a severe blow on the head , which caused an illness of several weeks . At the end of a year , Warburton had not only become dissipated in his habits , but had connected himself with a set of gamblers , who , as he proved to be a skilful hand , and not at all squeamish , resolved to send him on a trip down the Ohio and Mississippi , to New Orleans , for mutual benefit . To this he had not the slightest objection .