Ten o’clock
Merrily rose West Lynne on Thursday morning ; merrily rang out the bells , clashing and chiming . The street was alive with people ; the windows were crowded with heads ; something unusual was astir . It was the day of the nomination of the two candidates , and everybody took the opportunity to make a holiday . Ten o'clock was the hour named ; but , before that hour struck , West Lynne was crammed . The country people had come in , thick and threefold ; rich and poor ; people of note , and people of none ; voters and non-voters , all eager to mix themselves up with the day 's proceedings . You see the notorious fact of Sir Francis Levison 's having come forward to oppose Mr. Carlyle , caused greater interest in this election than is usual , even in small country places -- and that need not be . Barbara drove in her carriage , the two children with her , and the governess .