twelve o'clock midnight
After beating in vain for the greater part of the morning , a fox was at length found , who led us a chase of two hours , in the course of which , notwithstanding the ill-omened French binding upon my hat , I sustained my character as a horseman to the admiration of my uncle and Miss Vernon , and the secret disappointment of those who expected me to disgrace it . Reynard , however , proved too wily for his pursuers , and the hounds were at fault . I could at this time observe in Miss Vernon 's manner an impatience of the close attendance which we received from Thorncliff Osbaldistone ; and , as that active-spirited young lady never hesitated at taking the readiest means to gratify any wish of the moment , she said to him , in a tone of reproach -- `` I wonder , Thornie , what keeps you dangling at my horse 's crupper all this morning , when you know the earths above Woolverton-mill are not stopt . '' `` I know no such an thing then , Miss Die , for the miller swore himself as black as night , that he stopt them at twelve o'clock midnight that was . '' `` O fie upon you , Thornie ! would you trust to a miller 's word ? -- and these earths , too , where we lost the fox three times this season !