eleven o'clock
Mrs. Lindsay fancied she knew the cause , and resolved to break it up . From the first of Ellen 's coming , her grandmother had taken the entire charge of her toilet . Whatever Mrs. Lindsay 's notions in general might be as to the propriety of young girls learning to take care of themselves , Ellen was much too precious a plaything to be trusted to any other hands , even her own . At eleven o'clock regularly every day she went to her grandmother 's dressing-room for a very elaborate bathing and dressing ; though not a very long one , for all Mrs. Lindsay 's were energetic . Now , without any hint as to the reason , she was directed to come to her grandmother an hour before the breakfast-time , to go through the course of cold-water , sponging , and hair-gloving that Mrs. Lindsay was accustomed to administer at eleven . Ellen heard in silence , and obeyed , but made up her hour by rising earlier than usual , so as to have it before going to her grandmother . It was a little difficult at first , but she soon got into the habit of it , though the mornings were dark and cold .