about one
o’clock in the morning
There was kippered salmon , and Finnan haddocks , and a lamb 's head , and a haggis -- a celebrated Scotch dish , gentlemen , which my uncle used to say always looked to him , when it came to table , very much like a Cupid 's stomach -- and a great many other things besides , that I forget the names of , but very good things , notwithstanding . The lassies were pretty and agreeable ; the bailie 's wife was one of the best creatures that ever lived ; and my uncle was in thoroughly good cue . The consequence of which was , that the young ladies tittered and giggled , and the old lady laughed out loud , and the bailie and the other old fellows roared till they were red in the face , the whole mortal time . I do n't quite recollect how many tumblers of whiskey - toddy each man drank after supper ; but this I know , that about one o'clock in the morning , the bailie 's grown-up son became insensible while attempting the first verse of `` Willie brewed a peck o ' maut '' ; and he having been , for half an hour before , the only other man visible above the mahogany , it occurred to my uncle that it was almost time to think about going , especially as drinking had set in at seven o'clock , in order that he might get home at a decent hour . But , thinking it might not be quite polite to go just then , my uncle voted himself into the chair , mixed another glass , rose to propose his own health , addressed himself in a neat and complimentary speech , and drank the toast with great enthusiasm . Still nobody woke ; so my uncle took a little drop more -- neat this time , to prevent the toddy from disagreeing with him -- and , laying violent hands on his hat , sallied forth into the street . ` It was a wild , gusty night when my uncle closed the bailie 's door , and settling his hat firmly on his head to prevent the wind from taking it , thrust his hands into his pockets , and looking upward , took a short survey of the state of the weather .