midnight
But if there 's to be any jealousy and en _ vy _ ing about going to Kench 's in the rain , let them go as like it -- you wo n't get me to go , I can tell you . '' By the landlord 's intervention , however , the dispute was accommodated . Mr. Dowlas consented to go as a second person disinclined to act officially ; and so poor Silas , furnished with some old coverings , turned out with his two companions into the rain again , thinking of the long night-hours before him , not as those do who long to rest , but as those who expect to `` watch for the morning '' . When Godfrey Cass returned from Mrs. Osgood 's party at midnight , he was not much surprised to learn that Dunsey had not come home . Perhaps he had not sold Wildfire , and was waiting for another chance -- perhaps , on that foggy afternoon , he had preferred housing himself at the Red Lion at Batherley for the night , if the run had kept him in that neighbourhood ; for he was not likely to feel much concern about leaving his brother in suspense . Godfrey 's mind was too full of Nancy Lammeter 's looks and behaviour , too full of the exasperation against himself and his lot , which the sight of her always produced in him , for him to give much thought to Wildfire , or to the probabilities of Dunstan 's conduct . The next morning the whole village was excited by the story of the robbery , and Godfrey , like every one else , was occupied in gathering and discussing news about it , and in visiting the Stone-pits .