midnight
Everybody made him welcome and seemed to like him , and the lady fairies were simply delightful , especially Gauzita , who took a great fancy to him . Just before the sun rose , Robin gave him something from another flagon , and he grew large again , and two minutes and three seconds and a half before daylight the ball broke up , and Robin took him home and left him , promising to call for him the next night . Every night throughout the whole summer the same thing happened . At midnight he went to the fairies ' dance ; and at two minutes and three seconds and a half before dawn he came home . He was never lonely any more , because all day long he could think of what pleasure he would have when the night came ; and , besides that , all the fairies were his friends . But when the summer was coming to an end , Robin Goodfellow said to him : `` This is our last dance -- at least it will be our last for some time . At this time of the year we always go back to our own country , and we do n't return until spring . ''