ten at night
First , we knocked over two drunk Irishmen , that were singing `` Erin-go-Bragh , '' arm-in-arm -- syne we rode over the top of an old woman with a wheelbarrow of cabbages -- and when we came to the toll , which was kept by a fat man with a red waistcoat , Robbie 's pony , being , like all Highlanders , a wilful creature , stopped all at once ; and though he won the half mutchkin by getting through first , after driving over the tollman , it was at the expense of poor Robbie 's being ejected from his stirrups like a battering-ram , and disappearing head-foremost through the toll-house window , which was open , hat , wig , green umbrella , and all -- the tollman 's wife 's bairn making a providential escape from Robbie 's landing on all-fours , more than two yards on the far-side of the cradle in which it was lying asleep , with its little flannel nightgown on . At the time , all was war and rebellion with the tollman , assault and battery , damages , broken panes , and what not ; but with skilful management , and a few words in the private ear of Mr Rory Sneckdrawer , the penny-writer , we got matters southered up when we were in our sober senses ; though I shall not say how much it cost us both in preaching and pocket , to make the man keep a calm sough as to bringing us in for the penalty , which would have been deadly . I think black-burning shame of myself to make mention of such ploys and pliskies ; but , after all , it is better to make a clean breast . Hame at last we got , making fire flee out of the Dalkeith causey stones like mad : and we arrived at our own door between nine and ten at night , still in a half-seas-overish state . I had , nevertheless , sense enough about me remaining , to make me aware that the best place for me would be my bed ; so , after making Nanse bring the bottle and glass to the door on a server , to give Peter Farrel a dram by way of `` doch-an-dorris , '' as the Gaelic folk say , we wished him a good-night , and left him to drive home the bit gig , with the broken shaft spliced with ropes , to his own bounds ; little jealousing , as we heard next morning , that he would be thrown over the back of it , without being hurt , by taking too sharp a turn at the corner . After a tremendous sound sleep , I was up betimes in the morning , though a wee drumly about the head , anxious to enquire at Tammie Bodkin , the head of the business department , me being absent , if any extraordinars had occurred on the yesterday ; and found that the only particular customer making enquiries anent me was our old friend Cursecowl , savage for the measure of a killing-coat , which he wanted made as fast as directly . Though dreadfully angry at finding me from home , and unco swithering at first , he at length , after a volley of oaths enough to have opened a stone wall , allowed Tammie Bodkin to take his inches ; but , as he swore and went on havering and speaking nonsense all the time , Tammie 's hand shook , partly through fear , and partly through anxiety ; and if he went wrong in making a nick in the paper here and there in a wrong place , it was no more than might have been looked for , from his fright and inexperience .