midnight
If Mrs. Kranz should be up , '' gasped Agnes , `` she 'd take us in and let you dry your feet , Neale . '' `` We 'll get her up , '' declared Ruth . `` She 's as good-hearted as she can be , and she wo n't mind . '' `` But it 's midnight , '' chattered Neale , beginning to feel the chill . They hurried over the culvert and along the rough street . Far ahead there was an arc light burning on the corner of Meadow Street . But not a soul was astir in the neighborhood as the trio came nearer to the German woman 's grocery store , and the corner where Joe Maroni , the father of Maria , had his vegetable and fruit stand .