about four in the afternoon
After all , I had everything to gain and nothing in the whole wide world to lose . And I had youth and strength and energy , and the whole science of medicine packed in between my two ears . I felt as exultant as though I were going to take over some practice which lay ready for me . It was about four in the afternoon when I reached Birchespool , which is fifty-three miles by rail from Bradfield . It may be merely a name to you , and , indeed , until I set foot in it I knew nothing of it myself ; but I can tell you now that it has a population of a hundred and thirty thousand souls -LRB- about the same as Bradfield -RRB- , that it is mildly manufacturing , that it is within an hour 's journey of the sea , that it has an aristocratic western suburb with a mineral well , and that the country round is exceedingly beautiful . It is small enough to have a character of its own , and large enough for solitude , which is always the great charm of a city , after the offensive publicity of the country . When I turned out with my brass plate , my trunk , and my hat-box upon the Birchespool platform , I sat down and wondered what my first move should be .