midnight
Again he asked forgiveness , again bent down to kiss her , but Katy answered : `` Not yet , Wilford , not till I feel all right toward you . A wife 's kiss should be sincere . '' `` As you like , '' trembled on Wilford 's lips , but he beat back the words and walked up and down the room , knowing now that his journey must be deferred till morning , and wondering if Katy would hold out till then . It was long past midnight , but to retire was impossible , and so for one whole hour he paced through the room , while Katy lay with her eyes closed and her lips moving occasionally in the words of prayer she tried to say , asking God to help her , and praying that she might in future lay her treasures up where they could not so suddenly be swept away . Wearily the hours passed , and the gray dawn was stealing into the room when Wilford again approached his wife and said , `` You know I was to have left home last night on business . As I did not go then , it is necessary that I leave this morning . Are you able to stay alone for three days or more ?