midnight
When all in the distance was silent , Ratcliffe for the first time addressed her , and it was in that cold sarcastic indifferent tone familiar to habitual depravity , whose crimes are instigated by custom rather than by passion . `` This is a braw night for ye , dearie , '' he said , attempting to pass his arm across her shoulder , `` to be on the green hill wi ' your jo . '' Jeanie extricated herself from his grasp , but did not make any reply . `` I think lads and lasses , '' continued the ruffian , `` dinna meet at Muschat 's Cairn at midnight to crack nuts , '' and he again attempted to take hold of her . `` If ye are an officer of justice , sir , '' said Jeanie , again eluding his attempt to seize her , `` ye deserve to have your coat stripped from your back . '' `` Very true , hinny , '' said he , succeeding forcibly in his attempt to get hold of her , `` but suppose I should strip your cloak off first ? '' `` Ye are more a man , I am sure , than to hurt me , sir , '' said Jeanie ; `` for God 's sake have pity on a half-distracted creature ! ''