midnight
An , ' when the sun sets , hit 's like the whole world was a woman blushin ' . '' The dance on Saturday was to be something more portentous than a mere frolic . It would be a clan gathering to which the South adherents would come riding up and down Misery and its tributaries from `` nigh abouts '' and `` over yon . '' From forenoon until after midnight , shuffle , jig and fiddling would hold high , if rough , carnival . But , while the younger folk abandoned themselves to these diversions , the grayer heads would gather in more serious conclave . Jesse Purvy had once more beaten back death , and his mind had probably been devising , during those bed-ridden days and nights , plans of reprisal . According to current report , Purvy had announced that his would-be assassin dwelt on Misery , and was `` marked down . ''