midnight
Cora eagerly demanded , as she met him , and hurrying question upon question before giving him time to answer the first one . The youth raised his cap and bowed to the elder members of the party before answering the girl . Then he said : `` I did not know that I could come until an hour before I started . I came by the midnight express , and reached here just in time for church . I have not seen , or I should say , I have not spoken to , any one here yet except yourself . `` Last evening , being Friday evening , we were at work very late on our Saturday 's supplement , and a Christmas story in it . Very often we have to work on Christmas night , if the next day is a week day ; and every Sunday night -- that is , from twelve midnight , when the Sabbath ends -- we have to work to get out Monday morning 's paper . ''