midnight
I 'm ready for anything ! '' They struck hands upon it , and Basavriuk said , `` You are just in time , Peter : to-morrow is St. John the Baptist 's day . Only on this one night in the year does the fern blossom . I will await you at midnight in the Bear 's ravine . '' I do not believe that chickens await the hour when the housewife brings their corn with as much anxiety as Peter awaited the evening . He kept looking to see whether the shadows of the trees were not lengthening , whether the sun was not turning red towards setting ; and , the longer he watched , the more impatient he grew . How long it was !