midnight
He keeps up the rustic revels , and hospitalities too , for which his paternal farm-house has always been noted ; has plenty of good cheer and dancing at harvest-home , and above all , keeps the `` merry night , '' -LSB- A -RSB- as it is termed , at Christmas . -LSB- Footnote A : MERRY NIGHT ; a rustic merry-making in a farm-house about Christmas , common in some parts of Yorkshire . There is abundance of homely fare , tea , cakes , fruit , and ale ; various feats of agility , amusing games , romping , dancing , and kissing withal . They commonly break up at midnight . -RSB- -LSB- Illustration : In at the Death -RSB- With all his love of amusement , however , Jack is by no means a boisterous jovial companion . He is seldom known to laugh even in the midst of his gaiety ; but maintains the same grave , lion-like demeanour . He is very slow at comprehending a joke ; and is apt to sit puzzling at it , with a perplexed look , while the rest of the company is in a roar .