midnight
Luckily for me in this case , I had , by some foolish mistake or another , made an allowance of a half yard , over and above what I found I could manage to shape on ; so I boldly made up my mind to cut out the piece altogether , it being in the back seam . In that business I trust I showed the art of a good tradesman , having managed to do it so neatly that it could not be noticed without the narrowest inspection ; and having the advantage of a covering by the coat-flaps , had indeed no chance of being so , except on desperately windy days . In the week succeeding that on which this unlucky mischance happened , an accident almost as bad befell , though not to me , further than that everyone is bound by the Ten Commandments , to say nothing of his own conscience , to take a part in the afflictions that befall their door-neighbours . When the voice of man was wheisht , and all was sunk in the sound sleep of midnight , it chanced that I was busy dreaming that I was sitting one of the spectators , looking at another play-acting piece of business . Before coming this length , howsoever , I should by right have observed , that ere going to bed I had eaten for my supper part of a black pudding , and two sausages , that Widow Grassie had sent in a compliment to my wife , being a genteel woman , and mindful of her friends -- so that I must have had some sort of nightmare , and not been exactly in my seven senses -- else I could not have been even dreaming of siccan a place . Well , as I was saying , in the playhouse I thought I was ; and all at once I heard Maister Wiggie , like one crying in the wilderness , hallooing with a loud voice through the window , bidding me flee from the snares , traps , and gin-nets of the Evil One ; and from the terrors of the wrath to come . I was in a terrible funk ; and just as I was trying to rise from the seat , that seemed somehow glued to my body , and would not let me , to reach down my hat , which , with its glazed cover , was hanging on a pin to one side , my face all red , and glowing like a fiery furnace , for shame of being a second time caught in deadly sin , I heard the kirk-bell jow-jowing , as if it was the last trump summoning sinners to their long and black account ; and Maister Wiggie thrust in his arm in his desperation , in a whirlwind of passion , claughting hold of my hand like a vice to drag me out head-foremost .