morning about ten o'clock
`` And they a ' laughed thegither , and I up wi ' the belt , and I loundered them round the house and round the house , till ane screamed and anither screamed , and even their mither got clouts in trying to run betwixt them and me ; and it was wha to squeel loudest . Sae , after I had brocht them a ' to ken what I was , I awa yont to my mither 's , and I gied her five shillins , puir body ; and after stoppin an hour wi ' her , I gaed back to the house again . The bairns were a ' abed , and some o ' them were still sobbin , and Tibby was sittin by the fire ; but she didna venture to say a word -- I had completely astonished her -- and as little said I. `` There wasna a word passed between us for three days ; I was beginning to carry my head higher in the house , and on the fourth day I observed that she had nae tea to her breakfast . A day or twa after , the auldest lassie cam to me ae morning about ten o'clock , and says she -- '' ` Faither , I want siller for tea and sugar . ' '' ` Gae back to them that sent ye , ' says I , ` and tell them to fare as I do , and they 'll save the tea and sugar . ' `` But it is of nae use dwellin upon the subject . I did stop the supplies most effectually .