noon
By the simplicity of Venus ' doves . _ Merchant of Venice _ . That Sunday was spent by Aurelia at the Bear Inn , at Reading . Her journey had been made by very short stages , one before breakfast , another lasting till noon , when there was a long halt for dinner and rest for horse and rider , and then another ride , never even in these longest summer days prolonged beyond six or seven o'clock at latest , such was the danger of highwaymen being attracted by the valuable horses , although the grooms in charge were so well armed that they might almost as well have been troopers . The roads , at that time of year , were at their best , and Aurelia and Mrs. Dove were mounted on steady old nags , accustomed to pillions . Aurelia could have ridden single , but this would not have been thought fitting on a journey with no escort of her own rank , and when she mounted she was far too miserable to care for anything but hiding her tearful face behind Mr. Dove 's broad shoulders . Mrs. Dove was perched behind a wiry , light-weighted old groom , whom she kept in great order , much to his disgust .