two o’clock in the
afternoon
The conversation turned upon the vulgar notions of spirits and omens , that prevail among the commonalty of North-Britain , and all the company agreed , that nothing could be more ridiculous . One gentleman , however , told a remarkable story of himself , by way of speculation ` Being on a party of hunting in the North -LRB- said he -RRB- , I resolved to visit an old friend , whom I had not seen for twenty years -- So long he had been retired and sequestered from all his acquaintance , and lived in a moping melancholy way , much afflicted with lowness of spirits , occasioned by the death of his wife , whom he had loved with uncommon affection . As he resided in a remote part of the country , and we were five gentlemen with as many servants , we carried some provision with us from the next market town , lest we should find him unprepared for our reception . The roads being bad , we did not arrive at the house till two o'clock in the afternoon ; and were agreeably surprised to find a very good dinner ready in the kitchen , and the cloth laid with six covers . My friend himself appeared in his best apparel at the gate , and received us with open arms , telling me he had been expecting us these two hours . Astonished at this declaration , I asked who had given him intelligence of our coming ? and he smiled without making any other reply .