midnight
When we come to the proper places we wo n't spare fine language -- No , no ! But when we are going over the quiet country we must perforce be calm . A tempest in a slop-basin is absurd . We will reserve that sort of thing for the mighty ocean and the lonely midnight . The present Chapter is very mild . Others -- But we will not anticipate THOSE . And , as we bring our characters forward , I will ask leave , as a man and a brother , not only to introduce them , but occasionally to step down from the platform , and talk about them : if they are good and kindly , to love them and shake them by the hand : if they are silly , to laugh at them confidentially in the reader 's sleeve : if they are wicked and heartless , to abuse them in the strongest terms which politeness admits of .