twelve o'clock
The ball struck the beast plump in the eye , an ' cut it so shocking bad , that measter left ` un with the hoss doctor , and proposed for us to walk home in the cool o ' the evening , as the distance is only eight miles or thereabouts . Before we starts home he takes me to the Crown Inn , and treats me to a pot of ale , an ' while there he meets with some old acquaintance , who was telling him how he knew his father , old Noah , in ` Mericky ; an ' how he had died very rich , an ' left his money to a wife he had there , that he never married . An ' I thought as how measter did n't much like the news , as his father , it seems , had left him nothing -- not even his blessing . Well , 't was nigh upon twelve o'clock when we started . ` You 'd better stay all night , measter , ' says I ; `` tis nigh upon morning . ' ` Sam Smith , ' says he , ` I can not sleep out o ' my own bed ; ' and off we sets . On the bridge we heerd the first big clap o ' thunder ; the next minute we sor the ghost , and my measter gives a screech which might have roused old Squire Carlos from the dead , and straight fell down in a fit .