Midnight
That it came now , as he imagined , was as great a shock as if Martha had slapped him in the face with her own delicate hand , and his visage reddened from the blow . Miss Betsy Lavender , bending laboriously over the Psalms , nevertheless kept her dull gray eyes in movement . She saw the misconception , and fearing that Martha did not , made haste to remark : -- `` Well , Mr. Alfred , and do _ you _ think it 's a harm to read a story ? Why , Miss Ann herself lent me ` Alonzo and Melissa , ' and ` Midnight Horrors , ' and I 'll be bound you 've read 'em yourself on the sly . ' T a 'n' t much other readin ' men does , save and except the weekly paper , and law enough to git a tight hold on their debtors . Come , now , let 's know what you _ do _ read ? '' `` Not much of anything , that 's a fact , '' he answered , recovering himself , with a shudder at the fearful mistake he had been on the point of making , `` but I 've nothing against women reading stories .