midnight
Oh ! it was really an altogether delightful place in which to abide , and the pity was that its owner had spent so little time therein of late years . To-night -- returning to the scene of many childish and boyish meditations -- Jack placed his lamp upon the nightstand at the head of the bed and sat himself down on a chair near by . It was late -- quite midnight -- for he and Aunt Mary 's new maid had talked long and freely ere they separated at last . From his room he could hear the little faint sounds below stairs , that told of her final preparations for Lucinda 's morning eye , and he rested quiet until all else was quiet and then leaned back upon the chair 's hind legs and , tipping slowly to and fro in that position , tried to see just what he had better do the first thing on the following day . -LSB- Illustration 7 -RSB- '' ' Yesterday I played poker until I did n't know a blue chip from a white one . ' '' It was a riddle with a vengeance .