midnight
`` How much is there lacking ? '' `` Not quite a hundred dollars ; but it might as well be thousands for any chance I now see of getting it in season . There is now so much sickness about , that , as you know , I have had no rest , and little time to collect money . If not ready before midnight to-morrow , we are ruined . I have kept it from you as long as I dared , still hoping that those who ought to pay me would do so . '' `` Have you told them how very important it is that you should have the money ? '' `` No ; I did not wish to speak of it .