midnight
asked Jenny , with an earnest look on Charlie 's cunning face . `` Have you never noticed that great tin boiler under her bed ? '' Jenny burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter , which Amy vainly endeavored to silence , and directly Mary Madeline appeared and said , `` Mother would like to have a little less noise if they could favor her , as she had company below . '' Then the three sat down on the floor , and Jenny and Charlie planned a midnight attack upon the tin boiler . Amy , who was more sedate and cautious , advised them to desist ; but 't was just the exploit for Jenny 's frolicsome , mischievous temperament . Charlie was to take a pillow-case , and creep softly under the bed , and fill it from the supposed contents of the mysterious boiler , while Jenny stood at the kitchen door to assist him in bearing the precious burden to their room . How slow the hours passed after the plot was formed ere it could be carried into execution !