9:45
When the Auld Licht children grew up , too , they crowed over those of their fellows whose christening had been deferred until a comparatively late date , and the mothers who had needlessly missed a Sabbath for long afterward hung their heads . That was a good and creditable birth which took place early in the week , thus allowing time for suitable christening preparations ; while to be born on a Friday or a Saturday was to humiliate your parents , besides being an extremely ominous beginning for yourself . Without seeking to vindicate Bell Dundas ' behavior , I may note , as an act of ordinary fairness , that , being the leading elder 's wife , she was sorely tempted . Eppie made her appearance at 9:45 on a Saturday night . In the hurry and skurry that ensued , Sandy escaped sadly to the square . His infant would be baptized eight days old -- one of the longest deferred christenings of the year . Sandy was shivering under the clock when I met him accidentally , and took him home .