a few
minutes before seven o'clock
As for Mr Todd , he was , as I have said , a typical Scotsman , but I ought to have added `` of the very best sort '' , for from beneath his superficial businesslike keenness and shrewdness the natural kindliness and geniality of his disposition was constantly peeping through . As an instance of this I may mention that within five minutes of my meeting him he was insisting upon my making his house my home for as long a time as I might be on the island , which invitation his wife and his daughter were seconding with an earnestness that left me no room to doubt its absolute sincerity . And I may as well say , here and now , that when I subsequently put the hospitality of this delightful and warm-hearted family to the proof , so far from the performance falling short of the promise , I could not have been treated with greater kindness and consideration -- ay , and I may even add , affection -- had they been my own nearest relatives . We -- that is to say , Mr Todd and myself -- arrived at the Pen a few minutes before seven o'clock , and were forthwith ushered into the drawing-room , where we were received in most hospitable fashion by Sir Timothy and Lady Tompion , and where we found already assembled several captains and other officers from the men-o ' - war then in harbour , with a sprinkling of merchants from Kingston and planters from the neighbouring estates , all very genial , jovial characters in their several ways . Having first introduced me to Lady Tompion , and allowed me a minute or two to pay my respects to her , Sir Timothy very kindly made me known to the officers and other guests present . Dinner having been announced , we all filed into the dining-room and took our places . The dinner was a distinctly sumptuous affair , and included many very delicious dishes and viands with which I then made my first acquaintance .