ten o'clock in the morning
And with this the judicious Phoebe carefully drew the bed curtains again , closed the window shutters , and withdrew to her own room to complete her toilet . After a little while Phoebe went below to get her breakfast , which she always took in the housekeeper 's room . Mrs. Spicer had breakfasted long before , and so she met the girl with a sharp rebuke for keeping late hours . `` Pray , '' she inquired mockingly , `` is it the fashion in the country you came from for servants to be abed until ten o'clock in the morning ? '' `` That depends on circumstances , '' answered Phoebe , with assumed gravity ; `` the servants of noble families like the Countess of Hurstmonceux 's lie late ; but the servants of common folks like yours have to get up early . '' `` Like ours , you impudent minx ! I 'll have you to know that our family -- the Brudenells -- are as good as any other family in the world !