midday
`` Mr. Pocket ? '' said I. `` Dear me ! '' he exclaimed . `` I am extremely sorry ; but I knew there was a coach from your part of the country at midday , and I thought you would come by that one . The fact is , I have been out on your account , -- not that that is any excuse , -- for I thought , coming from the country , you might like a little fruit after dinner , and I went to Covent Garden Market to get it good . '' For a reason that I had , I felt as if my eyes would start out of my head . I acknowledged his attention incoherently , and began to think this was a dream .