midnight
The mistress of the house , a North-country woman , was so condescending as to blow my fire , remarking , at the same time , that coals were _ a very scarce article _ ; she begged to know whether I would choose a fire in my bed-room , and what quantity of coals she should lay in ; she added many questions about boarding , and small-beer , and tea , and sugar , and butter , and blankets , and sheets , and washerwomen , which almost overwhelmed my spirits . `` And must I think of all these things for myself ? '' said I , in a lamentable tone , and I suppose with a most deplorable length of face , for the woman could not refrain from laughing : as she left the room , I heard her exclaim , `` Lord help him , he looks as much astray as if he was just new from the Isle of Skye . '' The cares of life were coming fast upon me , and I was terrified by the idea of a host of petty evils ; I sat ruminating , with my feet upon the bars of the grate , till past midnight , when my landlady , who seemed to think it incumbent upon her to supply me with common sense , came to inform me that there was a good fire burning to waste in the bed-room , and that I should find myself a great deal better there than sitting over the cinders . I suffered myself to be removed to the bedchamber , and again established my feet upon the upper bar of the grate . `` Lack ! sir , you 'll burn your boots , '' said my careful landlady ; who , after bidding me good night , put her head back into the room , to beg I would be sure to rake the fire , and throw up the ashes safe , before I went to bed .