six o'clock
Some of the pilgrims who were in good health were already getting up , eating and drinking . One compartment was entirely occupied by women , ten pilgrims closely pressed together , young ones and old ones , all sadly , pitifully ugly . And as nobody dared to open the windows on account of the consumptives in the carriage , the heat was soon felt and an unbearable odour arose , set free as it were by the jolting of the train as it went its way at express speed . They had said their chaplets at Juvisy ; and six o'clock was striking , and they were rushing like a hurricane past the station of Bretigny , when Sister Hyacinthe stood up . It was she who directed the pious exercises , which most of the pilgrims followed from small , blue-covered books . `` The Angelus , my children , '' said she with a pleasant smile , a maternal air which her great youth rendered very charming and sweet . Then the `` Aves '' again followed one another , and were drawing to an end when Pierre and Marie began to feel interested in two women who occupied the other corner seats of their compartment .