four o'clock
The lassie weans , like clustering bees , were mounted on the carts that stood before Thomas Birlpenny the vintner 's door , churming with anticipated delight ; the old men took their stations on the dike that incloses the side of the vintner 's kail-yard , and `` a batch of wabster lads , '' with green aprons and thin yellow faces , planted themselves at the gable of the malt kiln , where they were wont , when trade was better , to play at the hand-ball ; but , poor fellows , since the trade fell off , they have had no heart for the game , and the vintner 's half-mutchkin stoups glitter in empty splendour unrequired on the shelf below the brazen sconce above the bracepiece , amidst the idle pewter pepper-boxes , the bright copper tea-kettle , the coffee-pot that has never been in use , and lids of saucepans that have survived their principals , -- the wonted ornaments of every trig change-house kitchen . The season was far advanced ; but the sun shone at his setting with a glorious composure , and the birds in the hedges and on the boughs were again gladdened into song . The leaves had fallen thickly , and the stubble-fields were bare , but Autumn , in a many-coloured tartan plaid , was seen still walking with matronly composure in the woodlands , along the brow of the neighbouring hills . About half-past four o'clock , a movement was seen among the callans at the braehead , and a shout announced that a carriage was in sight . It was answered by a murmuring response of satisfaction from the whole village . In the course of a few minutes the carriage reached the turnpike -- it was of the darkest green and the gravest fashion , -- a large trunk , covered with Russian matting , and fastened on with cords , prevented from chafing it by knots of straw rope , occupied the front , -- behind , other two were fixed in the same manner , the lesser of course uppermost ; and deep beyond a pile of light bundles and bandboxes , that occupied a large portion of the interior , the blithe faces of the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle were discovered . The boys huzzaed , the Doctor flung them penny-pieces , and the mistress baubees .