midnight
She spoke something of a black man , whom she had met about twilight hewing at the root of a tall tree . He was sulky , however , and would not come to terms : she was to go again with a propitiatory offering , but what it was she forbore to say . The next evening she set off again for the swamp , with her apron heavily laden . Tom waited and waited for her , but in vain ; midnight came , but she did not make her appearance : morning , noon , night returned , but still she did not come . Tom now grew uneasy for her safety , especially as he found she had carried off in her apron the silver tea-pot and spoons , and every portable article of value . Another night elapsed , another morning came ; but no wife . In a word , she was never heard of more .