nearly midnight
So soon as I could at all collect my thoughts , I sent for Joram , and begged him to provide me a conveyance in which it could be got to London in the night . I knew that the care of it , and the hard duty of preparing his mother to receive it , could only rest with me ; and I was anxious to discharge that duty as faithfully as I could . I chose the night for the journey , that there might be less curiosity when I left the town . But , although it was nearly midnight when I came out of the yard in a chaise , followed by what I had in charge , there were many people waiting . At intervals , along the town , and even a little way out upon the road , I saw more : but at length only the bleak night and the open country were around me , and the ashes of my youthful friendship . Upon a mellow autumn day , about noon , when the ground was perfumed by fallen leaves , and many more , in beautiful tints of yellow , red , and brown , yet hung upon the trees , through which the sun was shining , I arrived at Highgate . I walked the last mile , thinking as I went along of what I had to do ; and left the carriage that had followed me all through the night , awaiting orders to advance .