midday
`` But now tell me , my excellent friend , how did you find out I was here ? '' `` Odd , lad , queerly eneugh , '' said Dandie ; `` but I 'll tell ye that after ye are done wi ' our supper , for it will maybe no be sae weel to speak about it while that lang-lugged limmer o ' a lass is gaun flisking in and out o ' the room . '' Bertram 's curiosity was in some degree put to rest by the appearance of the supper which his friend had ordered , which , although homely enough , had the appetising cleanliness in which Mrs. Mac-Guffog 's cookery was so eminently deficient . Dinmont also , premising he had ridden the whole day since breakfast-time , without tasting anything `` to speak of , '' which qualifying phrase related to about three pounds of cold roast mutton which he had discussed at his midday stage , -- Dinmont , I say , fell stoutly upon the good cheer , and , like one of Homer 's heroes , said little , either good or bad , till the rage of thirst and hunger was appeased . At length , after a draught of home-brewed ale , he began by observing , `` Aweel , aweel , that hen , '' looking upon the lamentable relics of what had been once a large fowl , `` wasna a bad ane to be bred at a town end , though it 's no like our barn-door chuckles at Charlies-hope -- and I am glad to see that this vexing job hasna taen awa your appetite , Captain . '' `` Why , really , my dinner was not so excellent , Mr. Dinmont , as to spoil my supper . '' `` I dare say no , I dare say no , '' said Dandie : -- `` But now , hinny , that ye hae brought us the brandy , and the mug wi ' the het water , and the sugar , and a ' right , ye may steak -LSB- * Fasten -RSB- the door , ye see , for we wad hae some o ' our ain cracks . ''