eleven o’clock
Only if ye could compass a harmonious call frae the parish of Skreegh-me-dead , as ye anes had hope of , I trow it wad please him weel ; since I hae heard him say , that the root of the matter was mair deeply hafted in that wild muirland parish than in the Canongate of Edinburgh . I wish I had whaten books ye wanted , Mr. Butler , for they hae haill houses of them here , and they are obliged to set sum out in the street , whilk are sald cheap , doubtless , to get them out of the weather . It is a muckle place , and I hae seen sae muckle of it , that my poor head turns round . And ye ken langsyne , I am nae great pen-woman , and it is near eleven o'clock o ' the night . I am cumming down in good company , and safe -- and I had troubles in gaun up whilk makes me blither of travelling wi ' kend folk . My cousin , Mrs. Glass , has a braw house here , but a ' thing is sae poisoned wi ' snuff , that I am like to be scomfished whiles . But what signifies these things , in comparison of the great deliverance whilk has been vouchsafed to my father 's house , in whilk you , as our auld and dear well-wisher , will , I dout not , rejoice and be exceedingly glad .