five o'clock
All round us now was Scott 's `` Red-gauntlet '' country ; and the bridge crossing the Nith at Dumfries was built by Devorgilla . There was something to see and think of every minute ; and in fifty-nine miles we had followed Burns 's whole life-story on its slow way from Ayr to Dumfries . Only -- we could n't follow his thoughts to the stars ! We had stopped many times ; still it was n't yet five o'clock , and we had time to see all that 's sacred to Burns at Dumfries , the `` Fair Queen of the South , '' as Sir S. called it , quoting I do n't know what . First we went to the house in Bank Street where Burns came when he left Ellisland , and had seventy pounds a year to live on instead of fifty -- a sad and grim little house , where in the wee closet that was his study we could hear the music of the Nith , but catch no sparkle of its water . He had hardly air enough to fan the fire of genius , yet it went on turning brightly because nothing could put it out . If it was a sad house to live in , it must have been even sadder to die in .