eight o'clock in the morning
The ruined parents , as if by a common impulse , looked unutterable things at each other . Then the mother turned deadly pale ; and her husband tenderly kissed her cold cheek ; while Kate could scarcely restrain her feelings . The excitement of each was beginning to give way before sheer bodily and mental exhaustion ; and Dr. Tatham , observing it , rose to take his departure . It was arranged that the carriage should be at the door by eight o'clock in the morning , to convey them back to Yatton -- and that Dr. Tatham should breakfast with them , and afterwards accompany them on horseback . He then took his departure for the night , with a very full heart ; and those whom he had left , soon afterwards retired for the night ; and having first invoked the mercy and pity of Heaven , sank into slumber and brief forgetfulness of the perilous position in which they had been placed by the event of the day . Somewhat different was the mode in which the night was spent by the victorious party . Gammon , as has been seen , was the first to congratulate Titmouse on his splendid success .