midnight
`` Good night , Billy . '' `` Good-by , Lydia , '' said the young man heavily and he turned away , leaving her standing at the gate . But though she had maintained a calm front with Billy , Lydia went over and over their conversation that night feverishly before she went to sleep . She tossed and turned and then long after the old livingroom clock had struck midnight , she slipped out of bed and crouched on her knees , her hands clasped across her pillow , her eyes on the quiet stars that glowed through the window . `` O God , '' she prayed , `` O God , if You do exist , help me now ! Do n't let me lose Billy 's respect for I do n't know how I can get along without it . God !