midnight
But she was always first in my thoughts in that time of convalescence , as I made sure she was in his ; and at the last the hidden thing between us was brought to light . It was on a night some three weeks or more after my fever turn . Our larder had run low again , and Jennifer had spent the earlier hours of the night abroad -- to little purpose , as it chanced . 'T was midnight or thereabouts when he came swearing in to tell me that the Tories were out again to harry our side of the river afresh , and to make a refugee 's begging of a bag of meal a thing of peril . `` They 'll starve us out in shortest measure at this rate , '' he prophesied . `` They have trampled down all the standing corn for miles around , and this morning they burned the mill . 'T is our notice to quit , and we 'd best take it .