pudding-time

The dominie put on his surplice and stole, and as he came out of his office, met the catchpole, had him in there, and made him suck his face a good while, while the gauntlets were drawing on all hands; and then told him, You are come just in pudding-time; my lord is in his right cue.

Five books of the lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and his son Pantagruel 2002

The dominie put on his surplice and stole, and as he came out of his office, met the catchpole, had him in there, and made him suck his face a good while, while the gauntlets were drawing on all hands; and then told him, You are come just in pudding-time; my lord is in his right cue.

Five books of the lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and his son Pantagruel 2002

I count not him, hapless wretch! as one who, singling out "a friend," drops in just at pudding-time, and ravens horrible remnants of last Tuesday's joint, cognizant of curses in the throat of his host, and of intensest sable on the brows of his hostess.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, August 21, 1841 Various

Thus an old-time saying is explained, which always seemed rather meaningless, "I came early -- in pudding-time."

Home Life in Colonial Days Alice Morse Earle 1881

Hence the old saying, "I came in season -- in pudding-time."

Customs and Fashions in Old New England Alice Morse Earle 1881

Jack was received with a hearty welcome by his uncle, for he came in pudding-time, and was invited to dinner; and the Admiral made the important discovery, that if his nephew was a fool in other points, he was certainly no fool at his knife and fork.

Olla Podrida Frederick Marryat 1820

The dominie put on his surplice and stole, and as he came out of his office, met the catchpole, had him in there, and made him suck his face a good while, while the gauntlets were drawing on all hands; and then told him, You are come just in pudding-time; my lord is in his right cue.

Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 4 Fran��ois Rabelais 1518