midnight
I lingered long at the old School-House , for I expected never to behold it again , having been informed that it was shortly to give place to a building of a larger size , and of more modern structure . For several hours we had endured the jolting of the lumbering stage-coach over a rough hilly road which led through a portion of the State of New Hampshire ; and , as the darkness of night gathered around us , I , as well as my fellow-travellers , began to manifest impatience to arrive at our stopping-place for the night ; and we felt strongly inclined to find fault with the slow motion of the tired horses , which drew the heavily-loaded vehicle . Thinking it as well to know the worst at once , I asked the driver `` what time we might expect to reach our destination for the night ? '' `` It will be midnight at the least , perhaps later , '' replied he . This news was not very cheering to the weary travellers who filled the coach ; and I almost regretted having asked the question . The roughness of the roads , together with the crowded state of the vehicle , made it impossible for any one to sleep , and it became an important question how we should pass away the tedious hours . A proposition was at length made , that some one of the passengers should relate a story for the entertainment of the others .