midnight
`` But I ca n't go ; you 'll go too fast for me . '' It now appeared that the man also was to be seated on the donkey , holding Maggie before him , and she was as incapable of remonstrating against this arrangement as the donkey himself , though no nightmare had ever seemed to her more horrible . When the woman had patted her on the back , and said `` Good-by , '' the donkey , at a strong hint from the man 's stick , set off at a rapid walk along the lane toward the point Maggie had come from an hour ago , while the tall girl and the rough urchin , also furnished with sticks , obligingly escorted them for the first hundred yards , with much screaming and thwacking . Not Leonore , in that preternatural midnight excursion with her phantom lover , was more terrified than poor Maggie in this entirely natural ride on a short-paced donkey , with a gypsy behind her , who considered that he was earning half a crown . The red light of the setting sun seemed to have a portentous meaning , with which the alarming bray of the second donkey with the log on its foot must surely have some connection . Two low thatched cottages -- the only houses they passed in this lane -- seemed to add to its dreariness ; they had no windows to speak of , and the doors were closed ; it was probable that they were inhabitated by witches , and it was a relief to find that the donkey did not stop there . At last -- oh , sight of joy !