noon
Concerning the strangeness of this waking , to me who had been gently nurtured , and the rough life , and profane words which I must hear -LRB- not , indeed , that they had been wholly banished from our wild days at St. Andrews -RRB- , it is needless that I should tell . Seeing that I was come among rude neighbours , I even made shift to fall back , in semblance , on such manners as I had used among the students before I left Scotland , though many perils , and the fear wherein I stood of Brother Thomas , and the company of the maid Elliot , had caused me half to forget my swaggering ways . So , may God forgive me ! I swore roundly ; I made as if I deemed lightly of that Frenchman 's death , and , in brief , I so bore me that , ere noon -LRB- when I behoved to go into Chinon with Randal Rutherford , and there provide me with the rich apparel of our company -RRB- , I had three good quarrels on my hand . First , there was the man-at-arms who had kissed me in the guard-room . He , in a `` bourde '' and mockery , making pretence that he would repeat his insult , got that which was owing him , and with interest , for indeed he could see out of neither of his squint eyes when I had dealt with him . And for this cause perforce , if he needed more proof of my manhood than the weight of my fist , he must tarry for the demonstration which he desired .