eight o'clock
Meanwhile , Maryllia cantered home through the woods in complacent and lively humour . The first few hours of her return to the home of her forefathers had certainly not been lacking in interest and excitement . She had heard and granted a village appeal , -- she had stopped an act of vandalism , -- she had saved five of the noblest trees in England , -- she had conquered the hearts of several village yokels , -- she had thrust a tyrant out of office , -- she had been cursed by the said tyrant , a circumstance which was , to say the very least of it , quite new to her experience and almost dramatic , -- and , -- she had ` made eyes ' at a parson ! Surely this was enough adventure for one morning , especially as it was not yet eight o'clock . The whole day had yet to come ; possibly she might be involved later on in still more thrilling and sensational episodes , -- who could tell ! She carolled a song for pure gaiety of heart , and told the rustling leaves and opening flowers in very charmingly pronounced French that `` Votre coeur a beau se defendre De s ` enflammer , -- Le moment vient , il faut se rendre , Il faut aimer ! '' Cleopatra , Queen of Egypt , curveted and pranced daintily at every check imposed on her rein , as became an equine royalty , -- she was conscious of the elastic turf under her hoofs , and glad of the fresh pure air in her nostrils , -- and her mistress shared with her the sense of freedom and buoyancy which an open country and fair landscape must naturally inspire in those to whom life is a daily and abounding vigorous delight , not a mere sickly brooding over the past , or a morbid anticipation of the future .