midnight
What was the use of giving her trouble ? He tramped on , perhaps a little more slowly . It was late for a woman to be out on the lonely road alone . It must be past midnight . Then the thought came to him that perhaps she wished to pass him . In that case he might look the other way , on the opposite side of the road . In fact , he crossed to the other side to leave the way clear , and went on good-naturedly , singing his song loudly and all out of tune .