midnight
A meeting of the Society had been called for that night , to consider news brought by the postrider the day previous and to prepare advices for the Philadelphia Society against the postrider 's return : as secretary , he was wanted at the proceedings . He begged hard to be excused , but he was the scholar , the scribe ; no one would take his place . When the meeting ended , the hour was past for seeing Amy . He went to his room and read law with flickering concentration of mind till near midnight . Then he snuffed out his candle , undressed , and stretched himself along the edge of his bed . It was hard and coarse . The room itself was the single one that formed the ruder sort of pioneer cabin .