about six o'clock
I tried to distract myself with other thoughts -- of what I was going to ; for I had determined to go straight to Whitehall and ask for some employment ; yet back and back again came the memories , and little scenes of the house , and the appearance of the Great Chamber when it was all lit up , and of the figure of that little maid who had so angered me , and the way she carried her head , and the turns of her hand -- and how happy we all were yesterday about this time . However , I need not enlarge upon that . Those that have ever so suffered will know what I thought , without more words ; and those who have not suffered would not understand , though I used ten thousand . And every step of all the way to London , which we reached about six o'clock , spoke to me of her with whom I had once ridden along it . As we came up into Covent Garden I turned to my man James and gave him more confidence than I had ever given to him before -- for I think that he knew what had happened . `` James , '' said I , `` this is a very poor home-coming ; but it is not my fault . '' * * * * * Though fortune so far had been against me , I must confess that it favoured me a little better afterwards , for when I went in to Mr. Chiffinch 's on the next morning , he gave me the very news that I wished to hear .