about five o'clock
The invitation came from Scott to Mr. Ferrier : -- _ Walter Scott , Esq. , to James Ferrier , Esq. _ `` My DEAR SIR -- We are delighted to see that your feet are free and disposed to turn themselves our way -- a pleasure which we can not consent to put off till we have a house at Abbotsford , which is but a distant prospect . We are quite disengaged and alone , saving the company of Mr. Terry the comedian , who is assisting me in planning my cottage , having been bred an architect under Wyat . He reads to us after coffee in the evening , which is very pleasant . This letter will reach you to-morrow , so probably _ Thursday _ may be a convenient day of march , when we shall expect you to dinner about five o'clock , unless the weather should be very stormy , in which case we should be sorry Miss Ferrier should risk getting cold . To-day is clearing up after a week 's dismal weather , which may entitle us to expect some pleasant October days , not the worst of our climate . The road is by Middleton and Bankhouse ; we are ten miles from the last stage , and thirty from Edinburgh , hilly road . There is a ford beneath Ashestiel generally very passable , but we will have the boat in readiness in case Miss Ferrier prefers it , or the water should be full .