three in the morning
From this folk should condescend to take a lesson , seeing that , though the world is a bitter bad world , yet that good deeds are not only a reward to themselves , but call forth the applause of Jew and Gentile ; for the sweet savour of my conduct on this memorable night remained in my nostrils for goodness knows the length of time , many praising my brave humanity in public companies and assemblies of the people , such as strawberry ploys , council meetings , dinner parties , and so forth ; and many in private conversation at their own ingle-cheek , by way of two-handed crack ; in stage-coach confab , and in causey talk in the forenoon , before going in to take their meridians . Indeed , between friends , the business proved in the upshot of no small advantage to me , bringing to me a sowd of strange faces , by way of customers , both gentle and semple , that I verily believe had not so muckle as ever heard of my name before , and giving me many a coat to cut , and cloth to shape , that , but for my gallant behaviour on the fearsome night aforesaid , would doubtless have been cut , sewed , and shaped by other hands . Indeed , considering the great noise the thing made in the world , it is no wonder that every one was anxious to have a garment of wearing apparel made by the individual same hands that had succeeded , under Providence , in saving the precious life of an old woman of eighty , that had been bedridden , some say , four years come Yule , and others , come Martinmas . When we got to the ingle-side , and , barring the door , saw that all was safe , it was now three in the morning ; so we thought it by much the best way of managing , not to think of sleeping any more , but to be on the look - out -- as we aye used to be when walking sentry in the volunteers -- in case the flames should , by ony mischancy accident or other , happen to break out again . My wife blamed my hardihood muckle , and the rashness with which I had ventured at once to places where even masons and sclaters were afraid to put foot on ; yet I saw , in the interim , that she looked on me with a prouder eye -- knowing herself the helpmate of one that had courageously risked his neck , and every bone in his skin , in the cause of humanity . I saw this as plain as a pikestaff , as , with one of her kindest looks , she insisted on my putting on a better happing to screen me from the cold , and on my taking something comfortable inwardly towards the dispelling of bad consequences . So , after half a minute 's stand-out , by way of refusal like , I agreed to a cupful of het-pint , as I thought it would be a thing Mungo Glen might never have had the good fortune to have tasted ; and as it might operate by way of a cordial on the callant Benjie , who kept aye smally , and in a dwining way .