midnight
`` Two weeks before I , foolish lad that I was , had been enticed by two village comrades into a poaching venture , and although I took no actual part therein -- being only stationed as a watch on the outskirts of Colstone Wood -- I was seized by two of Sir John Latham 's keepers and taken away to the county gaol . I will not here attempt to describe the days of misery and shame that followed , and the grief and anguish of my parents ; for although Sir John and the other county magistrates before whom I was brought believed my tale when I weepingly told them that I had no intention of poaching -LRB- and , indeed , I did not actually know that my two companions were bent upon so dangerous an enterprise -RRB- and my punishment was but light , yet the disgrace was too much for me to bear . So ere the sting of the whipping I received had died away I had made up my mind to run away to London and get some honest employment , and trust to time for my father 's forgiveness . My sister Judith -- Heaven bless her loving heart -- to whom alone I made known my purpose , sought with tender words and endearing caresses to overcome my resolution ; but , finding her pleading was of no avail , she made heart to dry her tears , and , giving me half a guinea , which a month before had been given to her by Lady Latham , she folded me in her arms , and , kissing me a last goodbye , as I stood with her at midnight behind my father 's barn , bade me God speed . `` ` Goodbye , John , ' she whispered , `` twill surely break mother 's heart , I fear , when she knows you have gone . ' `` So , whispering back a promise that I would find some one in London to write to her for me and tell her how I fared , I gently took poor Judith 's loving arms from around my neck , and ran as hard as I could across the field into the high road ; for every moment my courage was failing me , and when I reached a hedge and lay down to rest awhile , my mother 's face rose before me , and I thought I heard her tender voice crying , ` My boy , my boy ! Has he gone without a last kiss from me ? '