eight o'clock in the
morning
I am sure there is such a plant as that . And if they settle their debts justly , I shall very soon be master of the prettiest little conservatory in England . For , treat it not as a jest , reader ; no case of timid practice is so fatally frequent . -RSB- Kate was ever lucky , though ever unfortunate ; and the world , being of my opinion that Kate was worth saving , made up its mind about half-past eight o'clock in the morning to save her . Just at that time , when the night was over , and its sufferings were hidden -- in one of those intermitting gleams that for a moment or two lightened the clouds of her slumber , Kate 's dull ear caught a sound that for years had spoken a familiar language to _ her _ . What was it ? It was the sound , though muffled and deadened , like the ear that heard it , of horsemen advancing .