midnight
Then , one Christmas Eve , came the misfortune . The old woodcutter , who thought that the children were fast asleep , went off to midnight mass . But directly he had gone they got up . They wanted to prepare midnight supper for the old man 's return , and they danced with glee at the surprise they were getting ready for him . While the little girl was cooking the chestnuts and putting the pot of honey and the jug of cider on the table , Jean le Rouge heaped great logs on to the fire . Time went on , the chestnuts were cooked , and the woodcutter had not yet come home . It seemed a long time .