midnight
The Longestaffe life had not been an easy , natural , or intellectual life ; but the Melmotte life was hardly endurable even by a Longestaffe . She had , however , come prepared to suffer much , and was endowed with considerable power of endurance in pursuit of her own objects . Having willed to come , even to the Melmottes , in preference to remaining at Caversham , she fortified herself to suffer much . Could she have ridden in the park at mid-day in desirable company , and found herself in proper houses at midnight , she would have borne the rest , bad as it might have been . But it was not so . She had her horse , but could with difficulty get any proper companion . She had been in the habit of riding with one of the Primero girls , -- and old Primero would accompany them , or perhaps a brother Primero , or occasionally her own father .