about midday
I had solicited the favour myself . When I did so , he hesitated , and asked who were going . Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest , he seemed half inclined to go , but when I mentioned Mrs. Graham , thinking it might be a further inducement , it appeared to have a contrary effect , and he declined it altogether , and , to confess the truth , the decision was not displeasing to me , though I could scarcely tell you why . It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination . Mrs. Graham walked all the way to the cliffs ; and little Arthur walked the greater part of it too ; for he was now much more hardy and active than when he first entered the neighbourhood , and he did not like being in the carriage with strangers , while all his four friends , mamma , and Sancho , and Mr. Markham , and Miss Millward , were on foot , journeying far behind , or passing through distant fields and lanes . I have a very pleasant recollection of that walk , along the hard , white , sunny road , shaded here and there with bright green trees , and adorned with flowery banks and blossoming hedges of delicious fragrance ; or through pleasant fields and lanes , all glorious in the sweet flowers and brilliant verdure of delightful May . It was true , Eliza was not beside me ; but she was with her friends in the pony-carriage , as happy , I trusted , as I was ; and even when we pedestrians , having forsaken the highway for a short cut across the fields , beheld the little carriage far away , disappearing amid the green , embowering trees , I did not hate those trees for snatching the dear little bonnet and shawl from my sight , nor did I feel that all those intervening objects lay between my happiness and me ; for , to confess the truth , I was too happy in the company of Mrs. Graham to regret the absence of Eliza Millward .