midnight
`` Oh , Dave ! '' murmured the girl , and blushed . Then she gave him a look that meant a great deal . The sleighing-party was to start off about two o'clock the next afternoon , and did not expect to return to Crumville until well towards midnight . They were to go to the town of Lamont , about seventeen miles away . A new restaurant had been opened in this town , in connection with the hotel , and Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth had stopped there for a meal and had pronounced it excellent , the food being of first-class quality and an orchestra being present to liven matters up . Ben had thought at first that he could not accompany the others , his father having been taken sick ; but as Mr. Basswood 's illness was not of a serious nature , Mrs. Basswood , knowing how disappointed the youth would be , urged that he go along anyhow .