seven in the morning
Below , the broad Loire rolled slowly by between its green banks . Little boys , in the costume of Cupid , were riding great horses in to bathe after the day 's work . The grey roofs of the town nestled to the hillside , and far away stretched the summer landscape , full of vague suggestions of new scenes and pleasures to the pilgrims . ` We start for Chenonceaux at seven in the morning ; so , ladies , I beg that you will be ready punctually , ' was the command issued by Amanda , as they went to their rooms , after a festive dinner of what Lavinia called ` earth-worms and cacti , ' not being fond of stewed brains , baked eels , or thistles and pigweed chopped up in oil . Such a droll night as the wanderers spent ! No locks on the doors and no bells . Stairs leading straight up the gallery from the courtyard , carts going and coming , soft footsteps stealing up and down , whispers that sounded suspicious -LRB- though they were only orders to kill chickens and pick salad for the morrow -RRB- , and a ghostly whistle that disturbed Lavinia so much , she at last draped herself in the green coverlet , and went boldly forth upon the balcony to see what it meant .