afternoon, about four o'clock
Jeanne , low-spirited and in constant pain , leant on her father 's arm when she went out , while on her other side walked Aunt Lison , holding her niece 's hand , and thinking nervously , of this mysterious suffering that she would never know . They would all three walk for hours without speaking a word , and , while they were out , Julien went all over the country on horseback , for he had suddenly become very fond of riding . The baron , his wife , and the vicomte , paid a visit to the Fourvilles -LRB- whom Julien seemed to know very well , though no one at the château knew exactly how the acquaintance had begun -RRB- , and another duty call was paid to the Brisevilles , and those two visits were the only break in their dull , monotonous life . One afternoon , about four o'clock , two people on horseback trotted up to the château . Julien rushed into his wife 's room in great excitement : `` Make haste and go down , '' he exclaimed . `` Here are the Fourvilles . They have come simply to make a neighborly call as they know the condition you are in .