about noon
But , if I 'm no back afore dinner-time , mind ye to come and see how she is . '' With these brief orders , Nelly wrapped herself up in her cloak , and hastened to carry her services where they were most wanted . On reaching Gairyburn , they found Margaret , as she had been represented , very ill . The shock , however , did not , as there was at first some reason to fear , prove immediately mortal ; and about noon , when Jenny arrived , her mother proposed that she herself should go home , leaving her in constant attendance , and promising , at the same time , to return as often as possible , and give them all the assistance in her power . This arrangement appeared satisfactory to all parties ; but , at the end of three weeks , a second shock brought rest to the sufferer , and mourning to the house of Gairyburn . This mournful event , as is common in such cases , brought together the whole of the friends and relations of the deceased ; and among the rest came Betsy Braikens and her brother . Betsy had been for some time past residing with that brother in Perth ; but , as soon as it was known that she had arrived , those who pretended to take an interest in the affairs of her cousin hastened to represent to her in the strongest terms the necessity of her coming `` to _ keep his house _ ; '' and , yielding to their representations , she did offer her services .