noon
In short it was a boisterous house , the company resorting thereto of a sort little in unison with the religious frame of my grandfather . As soon , therefore , as he came from the deacon 's , he went to bed without taking off his clothes , in order that he might be fit for the road as he intended ; and his bed being in the public room , with sliding doors , he drew them upon him , hoping to shut out some of the din and to win a little repose . But scarcely had he laid his head on the pillow when he heard the voice of one entering the room , and listening eagerly , he discovered that it was no other than the traitor Winterton 's , the which so amazed him with apprehension that he shook as he lay , like the aspen leaf on the tree . Winterton called like a braggart for supper and hot wine , boasting he had ridden that day from Edinburgh , and that he must be up and across his horse by daylight in the morning , as he had need to be in Kilmarnock by noon . In this , which vanity made him tell in bravado , my grandfather could not but discern a kind Providence admonishing himself , for he had no doubt that Winterton was in pursuit of him , and thankful he was that he had given no inkling to anyone in the house as to whence he had come and where he was going . But had this thought not at once entered his head , he would soon have had cause to think it , for while Winterton was eating his supper he began to converse with their host , and to inquire what travellers had crossed the river . Twice or thrice , in as it were an off-hand manner , he spoke of one whom he called a cousin , but , in describing his garb , he left no doubt in my grandfather 's bosom that it was regarding him he seemed at once both so negligent and so anxious .