midnight
The Irishman coloured deeply , and , turning to Josiah , said , with great vehemence -- `` I should be sorry to use unbecoming language , Master Shirley ; but really I can not comprehend what you mean . '' Josiah then proceeded to inform him of the whole affair , from beginning to end ; and concluded by saying , he supposed Lary was in drink , and therefore unconscious of the mischief he had occasioned . The poor Irishman seemed lost with surprise at this strange account ; and he tried in vain to remember the events of the night ; and , after having turned the hatchet round and round , and carefully examined it at all points , he turned to his wife , and said -- `` I surely did not take this hatchet with me to the fair ; did I , Fanny ? '' `` I can not answer for what you did at the fair , Patrick , '' said his wife , sorrowfully ; `` I know I left you at midnight in a very questionable state , with some worthless idle fellows : did you stay at home , and mind your business , you would not get into such disgraceful scrapes as these . '' Pat shrugged up his shoulders , and sighed heavily ; then , turning to Josiah , said -- `` Your honour , I drank too much last night , and behaved like a madman , as these blows will sufficiently witness , though I can not remember how I came by them , or what I did last night ; but if this is my hatchet , which I see by the mark it is , why I know 't is no use denying the fact . I am heartily sorry for it , and , if you will forgive me this once , I will devote all my leisure hours in restoring your garden to its original neatness . '' Josiah accepted his submission ; and , after a long lecture on the ill effects of drinking , he said : -- `` And now , friend Lary , I would thank thee to restore my cousin Rachel 's rabbits , which I suppose thee took by mistake last night . ''